Former Marine still sets patriotic example for all

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Marlene J. Bohr
 
Patriotism is still very much alive and well in the East Texas area and a former Marine, along with many others, strive to keep it that way. Mike Jenkins grew up in Hughes Springs, graduated from high school in Hughes Springs and except for his service in the U.S. Marines, he has always lived in Hughes Springs. 
 
Mr. Jenkins is very active in Arden Hanes Post 351 and participated and spoke at a Memorial Day service at Spring Park in Hughes Springs. Following that service, Mr. Jenkins was the speaker at a Memorial Day service in Pittsburg at the Veterans’ Monument on the courthouse square. 
 
Mr. Jenkins enlisted in the Marines in 1960, and went in the officer training program at Quantico, Va. Following his basic training, he was stationed in Hawaii with the 2nd Btn. 4th Marines.
 
 
“While stationed in Hawaii, I was assigned as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Marines and went to Vietnam before there was any offense action over there,” Mr. Jenkins said. “I returned to the home base in Hawaii, and five days later shipped out as hotel company commander of the 2nd Btn. 4th Marines, back to Vietnam. I was in the second wave that hit the beach on the first offensive action Americans had in Vietnam. Six months later, we established a base called Chui Lai, which is located 50 miles south of Da Nang. Six months after hitting the beach, we had our first major offensive action with the North Vietnamese, an operation called Starlite. We encountered a regimental-size force, and my company was helicoptered in for a landing zone. It turned out that landing zone was inside the defensive perimeter of that Viet Cong regiment. Consequently, we were totally surrounded when we hit the ground.” 
 
There were 202 people in Mr. Jenkin’s company that hit the ground that morning at 7:30.
 
 
 
To continue reading this article purchase the June 5th edition of The Steel Country Bee or go to our online e-edition at: http://www.etypeservices.com/Daingerfield%20BeeID312/default.aspx
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