On February 4, 2019, Marine Corps Reserve PFC Robert Donald Jenks, 20, killed in World War II, was officially identified. He will soon be returned to his family and finally laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors. (DATE: PENDING)
Born December 15, 1922, in Sutherland, Iowa, Robert was blessed to the union of Arthur LeRoy Sr and Margaret Mary (nee Frank) Jenks.
The family moved from Iowa to Huron, South Dakota. Before entering the military, Robert worked in the harvest fields, for Northwestern Railroad, and at Daum's City Auditorium in Huron.
On his twentieth birthday, Robert walked into an Aberdeen, South Dakota Marine Corps recruiting station and enlisted in the Reserves. He trained in San Diego, California before being sent overseas on Easter Sunday April 6, 1943. He was serving in the mortar-firing platoon of the Second Marines on Tarawa.
Private First Class Jenks was with his brothers in Delta Company, 1st Battalion of the 6th Marines (D-1/6) when they landed on Betio as part of Operation: GALVANIC. The mission of the 2nd Marine Division was to secure the island in order to control the Japanese airstrip in the Tarawa Atoll; thereby preventing the Japanese Imperial forces from getting closer to the United States, and enabling US forces to get closer to mainland Japan. It would become one of the bloodiest battles in the Corps history.
Over the course of November 22-23, 1943 (D+2 & 3 for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Robert - just 20 years old - perished. He was reportedly soon buried in Row D of the East Division Cemetery, later renamed Cemetery 33 on Betio Island - a temporary location chosen by his fellow Marines, the survivors of the battle, until the Fallen could be recovered and returned to their families.
Having a loved one away from home during the holidays is always trying; however, having a son or husband off fighting in the war left the whole family on edge. The fact that this battle took place just before Thanksgiving meant that most of the families, who had unknowingly earned their Gold Star, would receive their heart-wrenching telegrams on Christmas Eve – some Christmas Day or even New Years Day.
For his service and sacrifice, Robert's mother accepted his awards and decorations, including:
- Purple Heart
- Combat Action Ribbon
- World War II Victory Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal
- Marine Corp Expeditionary Medal, and
- Gold Star Lapel Button.
Also left to mourn his passing were a sister Frances, and five brothers including PVT Joseph Jenks, U.S. Marine Corps; PFC James B Jenks, U.S. Marine Corps; PVT Arthur Jenks, U.S. Army; Tommy; and Jack.
That citation read in part:
"For outstanding performance in combat during the seizure and occupation of the Japanese-held Atoll of Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 20-24, 1943. Forced by treacherous coral reefs to disembark from their landing craft hundreds of yards off the beach, the Second Marine Division (Reinforced) became a highly vulnerable target for devastating Japanese fire. Dauntlessly advancing in spite of rapidly mounting losses, the Marines fought a gallant battle against crushing odds, clearing the limited beachheads of snipers and machine guns, reducing powerfully fortified enemy positions and completely annihilating the fanatically and strongly entrenched Japanese forces. . . by the valiant fighting spirit of these men, their heroic fortitude under the punishing fire and their relentless perseverance in waging this epic battle in the Central Pacific, they have upheld the finest traditions of the United State Naval Service."
Despite the heavy casualties suffered by U.S. forces, military success in the battle of Tarawa was a huge victory for the U.S. military because the Gilbert Islands provided the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet a platform from which to launch assaults on the Marshall and Caroline Islands to advance their Central Pacific Campaign against Japan.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio, but PFC Jenks' remains were not recovered. On October 7, 1949, a military review board declared Robert "non-recoverable".
On February 4, 2019, the DPAA officially identified the remains of Private First Class Robert Donald Jenks.
On May 4, 2020, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of PFC Jenks and put them in contact with the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section. This (re)established lines of communication with Robert's family regarding the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts, as his nephew and namesake had already provided a Family Reference DNA Sample, should it be necessary for his identification.
Robert's family received "The Call" from the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section with the good news.
Robert will soon be returned to his family and laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors.
Robert's name is permanently inscribed on a granite obelisk in front of the Huron Public Library.
Marine Corps Reserve Private First Class Robert Donald Jenks is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PFC Jenks' name shall remain permanently inscribed within Court 4 of the "Courts of the Missing". A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate Robert has finally been found (56111954, a cenotaph).
SOURCES
DPAA Personnel Profile
Marine Corps POW/MIA Section
DPAA Release No: 20-063 (May 5, 2020)
TarawaOnTheWeb - http://tarawaontheweb.org/jenksrobert.htm
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Note from the memorial maintainer:
I am grateful to Chuck Williams & Hattie Johnson (USMC POW/MIA Section) and the DPAA for their efforts in bringing my Marine home. "It takes a village!"
Born December 15, 1922, in Sutherland, Iowa, Robert was blessed to the union of Arthur LeRoy Sr and Margaret Mary (nee Frank) Jenks.
The family moved from Iowa to Huron, South Dakota. Before entering the military, Robert worked in the harvest fields, for Northwestern Railroad, and at Daum's City Auditorium in Huron.
On his twentieth birthday, Robert walked into an Aberdeen, South Dakota Marine Corps recruiting station and enlisted in the Reserves. He trained in San Diego, California before being sent overseas on Easter Sunday April 6, 1943. He was serving in the mortar-firing platoon of the Second Marines on Tarawa.
Private First Class Jenks was with his brothers in Delta Company, 1st Battalion of the 6th Marines (D-1/6) when they landed on Betio as part of Operation: GALVANIC. The mission of the 2nd Marine Division was to secure the island in order to control the Japanese airstrip in the Tarawa Atoll; thereby preventing the Japanese Imperial forces from getting closer to the United States, and enabling US forces to get closer to mainland Japan. It would become one of the bloodiest battles in the Corps history.
Over the course of November 22-23, 1943 (D+2 & 3 for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Robert - just 20 years old - perished. He was reportedly soon buried in Row D of the East Division Cemetery, later renamed Cemetery 33 on Betio Island - a temporary location chosen by his fellow Marines, the survivors of the battle, until the Fallen could be recovered and returned to their families.
Having a loved one away from home during the holidays is always trying; however, having a son or husband off fighting in the war left the whole family on edge. The fact that this battle took place just before Thanksgiving meant that most of the families, who had unknowingly earned their Gold Star, would receive their heart-wrenching telegrams on Christmas Eve – some Christmas Day or even New Years Day.
For his service and sacrifice, Robert's mother accepted his awards and decorations, including:
- Purple Heart
- Combat Action Ribbon
- World War II Victory Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal
- Marine Corp Expeditionary Medal, and
- Gold Star Lapel Button.
Also left to mourn his passing were a sister Frances, and five brothers including PVT Joseph Jenks, U.S. Marine Corps; PFC James B Jenks, U.S. Marine Corps; PVT Arthur Jenks, U.S. Army; Tommy; and Jack.
That citation read in part:
"For outstanding performance in combat during the seizure and occupation of the Japanese-held Atoll of Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 20-24, 1943. Forced by treacherous coral reefs to disembark from their landing craft hundreds of yards off the beach, the Second Marine Division (Reinforced) became a highly vulnerable target for devastating Japanese fire. Dauntlessly advancing in spite of rapidly mounting losses, the Marines fought a gallant battle against crushing odds, clearing the limited beachheads of snipers and machine guns, reducing powerfully fortified enemy positions and completely annihilating the fanatically and strongly entrenched Japanese forces. . . by the valiant fighting spirit of these men, their heroic fortitude under the punishing fire and their relentless perseverance in waging this epic battle in the Central Pacific, they have upheld the finest traditions of the United State Naval Service."
Despite the heavy casualties suffered by U.S. forces, military success in the battle of Tarawa was a huge victory for the U.S. military because the Gilbert Islands provided the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet a platform from which to launch assaults on the Marshall and Caroline Islands to advance their Central Pacific Campaign against Japan.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio, but PFC Jenks' remains were not recovered. On October 7, 1949, a military review board declared Robert "non-recoverable".
On February 4, 2019, the DPAA officially identified the remains of Private First Class Robert Donald Jenks.
On May 4, 2020, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of PFC Jenks and put them in contact with the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section. This (re)established lines of communication with Robert's family regarding the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts, as his nephew and namesake had already provided a Family Reference DNA Sample, should it be necessary for his identification.
Robert's family received "The Call" from the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section with the good news.
Robert will soon be returned to his family and laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors.
Robert's name is permanently inscribed on a granite obelisk in front of the Huron Public Library.
Marine Corps Reserve Private First Class Robert Donald Jenks is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PFC Jenks' name shall remain permanently inscribed within Court 4 of the "Courts of the Missing". A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate Robert has finally been found (56111954, a cenotaph).
SOURCES
DPAA Personnel Profile
Marine Corps POW/MIA Section
DPAA Release No: 20-063 (May 5, 2020)
TarawaOnTheWeb - http://tarawaontheweb.org/jenksrobert.htm
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Note from the memorial maintainer:
I am grateful to Chuck Williams & Hattie Johnson (USMC POW/MIA Section) and the DPAA for their efforts in bringing my Marine home. "It takes a village!"
On February 4, 2019, Marine Corps Reserve PFC Robert Donald Jenks, 20, killed in World War II, was officially identified. He will soon be returned to his family and finally laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors. (DATE: PENDING)
Born December 15, 1922, in Sutherland, Iowa, Robert was blessed to the union of Arthur LeRoy Sr and Margaret Mary (nee Frank) Jenks.
The family moved from Iowa to Huron, South Dakota. Before entering the military, Robert worked in the harvest fields, for Northwestern Railroad, and at Daum's City Auditorium in Huron.
On his twentieth birthday, Robert walked into an Aberdeen, South Dakota Marine Corps recruiting station and enlisted in the Reserves. He trained in San Diego, California before being sent overseas on Easter Sunday April 6, 1943. He was serving in the mortar-firing platoon of the Second Marines on Tarawa.
Private First Class Jenks was with his brothers in Delta Company, 1st Battalion of the 6th Marines (D-1/6) when they landed on Betio as part of Operation: GALVANIC. The mission of the 2nd Marine Division was to secure the island in order to control the Japanese airstrip in the Tarawa Atoll; thereby preventing the Japanese Imperial forces from getting closer to the United States, and enabling US forces to get closer to mainland Japan. It would become one of the bloodiest battles in the Corps history.
Over the course of November 22-23, 1943 (D+2 & 3 for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Robert - just 20 years old - perished. He was reportedly soon buried in Row D of the East Division Cemetery, later renamed Cemetery 33 on Betio Island - a temporary location chosen by his fellow Marines, the survivors of the battle, until the Fallen could be recovered and returned to their families.
Having a loved one away from home during the holidays is always trying; however, having a son or husband off fighting in the war left the whole family on edge. The fact that this battle took place just before Thanksgiving meant that most of the families, who had unknowingly earned their Gold Star, would receive their heart-wrenching telegrams on Christmas Eve – some Christmas Day or even New Years Day.
For his service and sacrifice, Robert's mother accepted his awards and decorations, including:
- Purple Heart
- Combat Action Ribbon
- World War II Victory Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal
- Marine Corp Expeditionary Medal, and
- Gold Star Lapel Button.
Also left to mourn his passing were a sister Frances, and five brothers including PVT Joseph Jenks, U.S. Marine Corps; PFC James B Jenks, U.S. Marine Corps; PVT Arthur Jenks, U.S. Army; Tommy; and Jack.
That citation read in part:
"For outstanding performance in combat during the seizure and occupation of the Japanese-held Atoll of Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 20-24, 1943. Forced by treacherous coral reefs to disembark from their landing craft hundreds of yards off the beach, the Second Marine Division (Reinforced) became a highly vulnerable target for devastating Japanese fire. Dauntlessly advancing in spite of rapidly mounting losses, the Marines fought a gallant battle against crushing odds, clearing the limited beachheads of snipers and machine guns, reducing powerfully fortified enemy positions and completely annihilating the fanatically and strongly entrenched Japanese forces. . . by the valiant fighting spirit of these men, their heroic fortitude under the punishing fire and their relentless perseverance in waging this epic battle in the Central Pacific, they have upheld the finest traditions of the United State Naval Service."
Despite the heavy casualties suffered by U.S. forces, military success in the battle of Tarawa was a huge victory for the U.S. military because the Gilbert Islands provided the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet a platform from which to launch assaults on the Marshall and Caroline Islands to advance their Central Pacific Campaign against Japan.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio, but PFC Jenks' remains were not recovered. On October 7, 1949, a military review board declared Robert "non-recoverable".
On February 4, 2019, the DPAA officially identified the remains of Private First Class Robert Donald Jenks.
On May 4, 2020, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of PFC Jenks and put them in contact with the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section. This (re)established lines of communication with Robert's family regarding the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts, as his nephew and namesake had already provided a Family Reference DNA Sample, should it be necessary for his identification.
Robert's family received "The Call" from the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section with the good news.
Robert will soon be returned to his family and laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors.
Robert's name is permanently inscribed on a granite obelisk in front of the Huron Public Library.
Marine Corps Reserve Private First Class Robert Donald Jenks is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PFC Jenks' name shall remain permanently inscribed within Court 4 of the "Courts of the Missing". A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate Robert has finally been found (56111954, a cenotaph).
SOURCES
DPAA Personnel Profile
Marine Corps POW/MIA Section
DPAA Release No: 20-063 (May 5, 2020)
TarawaOnTheWeb - http://tarawaontheweb.org/jenksrobert.htm
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Note from the memorial maintainer:
I am grateful to Chuck Williams & Hattie Johnson (USMC POW/MIA Section) and the DPAA for their efforts in bringing my Marine home. "It takes a village!"
Born December 15, 1922, in Sutherland, Iowa, Robert was blessed to the union of Arthur LeRoy Sr and Margaret Mary (nee Frank) Jenks.
The family moved from Iowa to Huron, South Dakota. Before entering the military, Robert worked in the harvest fields, for Northwestern Railroad, and at Daum's City Auditorium in Huron.
On his twentieth birthday, Robert walked into an Aberdeen, South Dakota Marine Corps recruiting station and enlisted in the Reserves. He trained in San Diego, California before being sent overseas on Easter Sunday April 6, 1943. He was serving in the mortar-firing platoon of the Second Marines on Tarawa.
Private First Class Jenks was with his brothers in Delta Company, 1st Battalion of the 6th Marines (D-1/6) when they landed on Betio as part of Operation: GALVANIC. The mission of the 2nd Marine Division was to secure the island in order to control the Japanese airstrip in the Tarawa Atoll; thereby preventing the Japanese Imperial forces from getting closer to the United States, and enabling US forces to get closer to mainland Japan. It would become one of the bloodiest battles in the Corps history.
Over the course of November 22-23, 1943 (D+2 & 3 for the "Battle of Tarawa"), when young Robert - just 20 years old - perished. He was reportedly soon buried in Row D of the East Division Cemetery, later renamed Cemetery 33 on Betio Island - a temporary location chosen by his fellow Marines, the survivors of the battle, until the Fallen could be recovered and returned to their families.
Having a loved one away from home during the holidays is always trying; however, having a son or husband off fighting in the war left the whole family on edge. The fact that this battle took place just before Thanksgiving meant that most of the families, who had unknowingly earned their Gold Star, would receive their heart-wrenching telegrams on Christmas Eve – some Christmas Day or even New Years Day.
For his service and sacrifice, Robert's mother accepted his awards and decorations, including:
- Purple Heart
- Combat Action Ribbon
- World War II Victory Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal
- Marine Corp Expeditionary Medal, and
- Gold Star Lapel Button.
Also left to mourn his passing were a sister Frances, and five brothers including PVT Joseph Jenks, U.S. Marine Corps; PFC James B Jenks, U.S. Marine Corps; PVT Arthur Jenks, U.S. Army; Tommy; and Jack.
That citation read in part:
"For outstanding performance in combat during the seizure and occupation of the Japanese-held Atoll of Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 20-24, 1943. Forced by treacherous coral reefs to disembark from their landing craft hundreds of yards off the beach, the Second Marine Division (Reinforced) became a highly vulnerable target for devastating Japanese fire. Dauntlessly advancing in spite of rapidly mounting losses, the Marines fought a gallant battle against crushing odds, clearing the limited beachheads of snipers and machine guns, reducing powerfully fortified enemy positions and completely annihilating the fanatically and strongly entrenched Japanese forces. . . by the valiant fighting spirit of these men, their heroic fortitude under the punishing fire and their relentless perseverance in waging this epic battle in the Central Pacific, they have upheld the finest traditions of the United State Naval Service."
Despite the heavy casualties suffered by U.S. forces, military success in the battle of Tarawa was a huge victory for the U.S. military because the Gilbert Islands provided the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet a platform from which to launch assaults on the Marshall and Caroline Islands to advance their Central Pacific Campaign against Japan.
In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island. In 1946 and 1947, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio, but PFC Jenks' remains were not recovered. On October 7, 1949, a military review board declared Robert "non-recoverable".
On February 4, 2019, the DPAA officially identified the remains of Private First Class Robert Donald Jenks.
On May 4, 2020, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of PFC Jenks and put them in contact with the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section. This (re)established lines of communication with Robert's family regarding the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts, as his nephew and namesake had already provided a Family Reference DNA Sample, should it be necessary for his identification.
Robert's family received "The Call" from the Marine Corps POW/MIA Section with the good news.
Robert will soon be returned to his family and laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors.
Robert's name is permanently inscribed on a granite obelisk in front of the Huron Public Library.
Marine Corps Reserve Private First Class Robert Donald Jenks is memorialized among the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PFC Jenks' name shall remain permanently inscribed within Court 4 of the "Courts of the Missing". A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate Robert has finally been found (56111954, a cenotaph).
SOURCES
DPAA Personnel Profile
Marine Corps POW/MIA Section
DPAA Release No: 20-063 (May 5, 2020)
TarawaOnTheWeb - http://tarawaontheweb.org/jenksrobert.htm
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Note from the memorial maintainer:
I am grateful to Chuck Williams & Hattie Johnson (USMC POW/MIA Section) and the DPAA for their efforts in bringing my Marine home. "It takes a village!"
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