'Absolute hero' badly hurt in Iraq

Mobile Press Register ^ | 04/22/03 | CONNIE BAGGETT

[SeattleTiger]

A soldier profiled in the Mobile Register days ago was in critical condition Monday from severe injuries he sustained Saturday when he threw himself on a cluster bomb tossed by a 7-year-old Iraqi child, his mother and his wife said they were told by the military.

[SeattleTiger]

Prayers for Sgt Troy Jenkins, who is in "serious critical condition", having lost his left leg and seriously injured his hand Monday protecting both an Iraqi child and the other soldiers in his unit.

[exnavy]

prayers sent.

[Arkinsaw]

I hope that he recovers very quickly and makes it to his MOH ceremony at the White House as soon as possible.

[firewalk]

Prayer bump

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Now THIS might actually be a Medal of Honor story.

[Joe Driscoll]

"I'm asking for prayers," Gibson said.

Done.

[Aggie Mama]

Prayerful BTTT

[Mister Baredog]

According to the Pentagon this was an "explosive device" not a cluster bomb, but of course that doesn't "fit" the agenda of some people.

[cgk]

Prayer Ping for a true hero to recover, and for his family to maintain hope. I read he was also injured in Afghanistan, but had no problem heading to Iraq "It's the right thing to do."

I read about these soldiers every day and I admire, yet am still amazed, at every instance of bravery I find. It's sad that I am less surprised by the depravity of men than the courage and self-sacrifice of them.

[SeattleTiger]

His mother sounds pretty amazing too. I think this is such a graceful, brave response from a parent whose child has been injured by doing something noble.

"I'm asking for prayers," Gibson said. "Troy's a Christian, and I am so very proud of him. You like to think your children will do the right thing. He did, and he's an absolute hero."

Love your tagline, DOAIJV.

[MEG33]

My prayers for Sgt. Jenkins.God bless and heal him.

[YOMO]

Ditto. ABOVE and BEYOND came into mind first thing.
It properly documented this meant that he was willing to sacrifice his life for others, not merely trying to save his own.

[Tex-Con-Man]

'Absolute hero' badly hurt in Iraq

Sgt. Troy Jenkins of Repton loses leg and is in critical condition after saving others, military tells family

04/22/03

By CONNIE BAGGETT
Staff Reporter


REPTON -- A soldier profiled in the Mobile Register days ago was in critical condition Monday from severe injuries he sustained Saturday when he threw himself on a cluster bomb tossed by a 7-year-old Iraqi child, his mother and his wife said they were told by the military.

Connie Gibson of Repton said Department of Defense officers notified the family her 25-year-old son, Sgt. Troy Jenkins of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division, was in "seriously critical" condition Monday, undergoing treatment in Kuwait after losing his left leg and fingers on his right hand in an explosion.

"He's a hero," Gibson said, "a 100 percent hero. He threw himself on an unexploded cluster bomb to save a child and his unit. I've had the worst two days of my life."

Gibson said officials reported to the family that a young child was playing with the unexploded ordnance and tossed it near a group of soldiers. Jenkins reportedly recognized the ordnance and threw himself on top of it as it detonated. The blast severed his left leg and fingers on his right hand, Gibson said. He sustained various other shrapnel wounds, she said, but likely saved the lives of the child and soldiers nearby.

The incident is under investigation but officials do not believe the child, who was slightly injured, was part of any hostile attack against the soldiers who were part of a crowd control force, she said.

Gibson said military officials notified her son's wife, Amanda Jenkins, at their California home on Saturday. Jenkins and his wife have two sons, Tristan, 4, and Brandon, 2. Troy Jenkins graduated from Hillcrest High in Evergreen. He joined ROTC at 14, and joined the U.S. Marine Corps at 17. Four years later, he joined the U.S. Army and trained to be a paratrooper. He also studied Arabic.

In December, the last time Gibson saw her son, he told her, "Mom, if I die over there, don't worry. I'm doing what I want to do. This is a necessary job."

"I'm asking for prayers," Gibson said. "Troy's a Christian, and I am so very proud of him. You like to think your children will do the right thing. He did, and he's an absolute hero."

Amanda Jenkins is "trying to keep things as normal as possible," Gibson said. Troy was injured last June in Afghanistan when he was grazed by a bullet, she said. Once doctors stabilize his most recent injuries, Jenkins will be transported to Germany and then to a U.S. hospital for treatment, officials told the family.

U.S. Army Public Affairs officers in Tampa, Fla., and in Central Command in Qatar confirmed that an incident matching Gibson's account occurred Saturday, though policy prohibits naming the soldiers involved. The details would have to be released by family members, officials said.

A news release on the Central Command Web site read as follows:

"Four soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) were injured Saturday in Baghdad when unexploded ordnance detonated after a local child attempted to turn it over to the soldiers. The soldiers were conducting a dismounted patrol when the child approached with the unexploded ordnance. The unexploded ordnance detonated when one of the soldiers attempted to remove it from the child's hand.

"Three of the four soldiers have been evacuated to military medical treatment facilities; their conditions are unknown at this time. The fourth soldier involved was treated and returned to duty. The child, whose injuries are unknown, was taken away by a local man at the scene. Army civil affairs and medical teams are continuing efforts to locate the child.

"The soldiers' identities are being withheld pending next of kin notification. A full investigation is underway."

[poet]

Yes indeed.

[American Soldier]

Sounds like a hell of a brave man...former Marine, also injured when a bullet "grazed" him in Afghanistan. I think being grazed by a bullet would be enough to make me a little shy. I have read MOH citations for similar actions, but I imagine he's more worried about getting a good prosthesis...I hope he is well taken care of and makes as meaningful a recovery as is possible.

[cgk]

"I think this is such a graceful, brave response from a parent whose child has been injured by doing something noble."

It is. I've read bios on each and every soldier killed in the war while making up the tribute site in my tagline. The sad fact is, a small number of parents are NOT graceful, and NOT brave. They are angry at everyone from President Bush to local supporters at rallys for the troops for their loved one's deaths, but they aren't angry at Saddam. Some are even complaining they weren't "compensated" well enough.

Needless to say, I didn't include those kinds of reactions in the stories about the heros. It is demeaning to their own loved ones memories.

[SeattleTiger]

Hmmm...I suspect that is either imprecision or an error on the part of the parents, not an agenda. Renton, AL is a pretty small southern town, with quite a few kids who enlist in the military out of high school. I don't believe they're trying to promote anything but support for the troops.

[lavaroise]

Prayers sent that cannot be refused.

[ThomasMore]

Prayer Bump!