Jenkins, Harry Tarleton, Jr., CAPT

Captain Harry Tarleton Jenkins, Jr. was an American hero of the finest caliber. He was born in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 1927, and was raised in Maryland.

He retired from the Navy in 1978, accepting a position at Cubic Corporation. Jenkins was an active member of Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church as well as active with many charitable organizations. He was a vocal advocate for POW/MIA concerns and continued to press for a full accounting of those still missing. His great joy was flying. To that end, he built an airplane from a kit, the Long EZ, a two-seater fiberglass plane, and was taking off from an airport after refueling when the plane crashed. He died Aug. 2, 1995, leaving behind his wife, Marjorie, his children (Chris, Karen and Kirk), brother, Robert, and eight grandchildren. (His family now has grown to include five great grandchildren). His ashes were scattered at sea from the Denver, which had been his first ship command.

Harry was a courageous and dedicated husband, father, naval officer, friend and patriot.

Harry Jenkins was born on July 24, 1927, in Washington, D.C. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy V-5 Aviation Cadet program on May 19, 1945, and attended training at Newberry College and the University of South Carolina from June 1945 to September 1946, followed by flight training at NAS Dallas and NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, and NAS Pensacola and NAS Jacksonville, Florida. After completing flight school, he was designated a Naval Aviator on August 15, 1948, and was commissioned an Ensign on December 26, 1948. His first assignment was as a Maintenance Officer and AM-1 Mauler pilot with VA-84 at NAS Oceana, Virginia, from August 1948 to November 1949, followed by service as Assistant Maintenance Officer with Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron 6 at NAS Jacksonville from December 1949 to February 1950. LtJg Jenkins next served as a Combat Information Center (CIC) Officer aboard the destroyer USS Fred T. Berry (DDE-858) from February to October 1950, including service during the opening months of the Korean War. After serving as a flight instructor at NAS Pensacola from October 1950 to January 1953, and attending CIC School at NAS Glenview, Illinois, from January to June 1953, Lt Jenkins served as a CIC Officer aboard the escort carrier USS Point Cruz (CVE-119) from June 1953 to May 1955. His next assignment was as Officer in Charge of Detachment Mike, Composite Squadron 11 (VC-11) from May 1955 to July 1957, followed by Navy Postgraduate School at Monterey, California, from July 1957 to June 1959. LCDR Jenkins served as a project engineer with the Naval Air Turbine Test Station at Trenton, New Jersey, from June 1959 to August 1961, and then completed A-4 Skyhawk Replacement Pilot Training with CVG-4 from August 1961 to February 1962. His next assignment was as Administrative Officer, Operations Officer, and then Executive Officer of CVG-16 from February to October 1962, followed by service as Executive Officer of VA-163 from October 1962 to December 1964, and Commanding Officer of VA-163 from December 1964 until he was shot down over the country of North Vietnam: 13 Nov 1965. Jenkins was immediately captured and taken as a Prisoner of War. After spending 2,649 days in captivity, Captain Jenkins was released during Operation Homecoming on 12 February 1973. He was hospitalized at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California, and then served on the staff of Commander Naval Air Force, Pacific Fleet. Captain Jenkins next served as Commanding Officer of the amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD-9) from July 1974 to September 1975, followed by service as Commander Amphibious Squadron 5, from January 1976 to January 1978. Harry Jenkins retired from the Navy on: 4 June 1978. 

His First (of 3) SILVER STARS Citations reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. On 24 and 25 November 1965, his captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.

Freedom is not free! It's been paid for with precious blood, suffering and treasure!  

Harry died on August 2, 1995, at the age of 68, after an experimental two-seater light plane he built from a kit about five years earlier, lost power while he was piloting, and taking off from Prescott Arizona Municipal Airport. Harry didn't survive the crash.

Harry was a tortured prisoner of war in North Vietnam for nearly eight long years. He returned to his family in February 1973 bearing a dirty, cracked porcelain cup - the only dish he used during his long ordeal.  

Harry was an incredible man, and patriot!

Rest in Peace!