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Jenkins in the past -
Jenkins now
It’s not every day a military veteran has a song written about them, much less a music video.
But a group of area veterans came together, using a local picturesque bed and breakfast as the backdrop, for the production of a music video honoring a U.S. Army veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War.
Don Jenkins, then a private first class in Company A, was awarded the Medal of Honor on March 2, 1971, in the East Ballroom of the White House by President Richard M. Nixon.
According to veteran and Newton resident Rob Langston, the Book Nook Inn, near Lumberton, was selected as the site for the music video because it is centrally located. The unique white, wooden, three-story inn is more than 12,000 square feet, which includes a large living room and foyer, four bedrooms, a kitchen, a swimming pool and an event center. It opened in July 2013.
David Hearne, co-owner of the Book Nook Inn, said this was the second video shot at the inn.
“I was happy that they picked our place,” he said.
Hearne, who is also a U.S. Army veteran and served in the Vietnam War, added he was impressed with the crew producing the video.
Christopher Martini, owner of Triple Martini Productions, directed the video production. The production crew was on site July 28 and 29 shooting video footage.
Hearne added he’s been privileged to work with two other Medal of Honor winners.
“I wrote a book about the war and the book has brought me into contact with a lot of guys,” he said.
Langston said the idea for the music video came up in January.
“We all came up with the idea for a music video,” he said. “Chad Campbell has produced music and other videos, so we brought him on board along with Chris Martini to shoot. We’re basically like family.”
Langston said he first met Jenkins in Orlando, Fla., while they were working together with a veteran’s group.
“We’re doing this because Don gives back a lot to other veteran organizations and he does a lot to bring in money for other people,” he said. “We designed this for Don, about Don and completely about Don to honor him.”
Blackbird Anthem wrote and produced a song called “MOH (Medal of Honor),” a song about Jenkins. According to their website, the band’s mission is to help revive original Southern Rock music while giving back to the veteran community.
Band member Jeremy Chestnutt, who is from Lumberton, and Florida native Adam Martin wrote the song.
Langston said the video will be about three minutes.
He said they wanted a time to honor Jenkins and are “not expecting anything in return.”
“We have been friends of years,” said Jenkins. “Then they hook up with their friends from Blackbird Anthem. About a year or two ago, Adam wanted to write a song about what I did. I told him it would be alright.”
Jenkins said the group of veterans told him they wanted to do a music video about his actions in Vietnam and found a place for the shoot.
“They came by and saw this place and they asked David (Hearne) and he said, ‘Sure,’ about doing some shooting here,” he said. “That’s how it started.”
Also, the local America Legion — William Hoy Curtis Post 72 — presented Jenkins with a plaque for his service and recognition.
Jenkins was born April 18, 1948, in Butler County, outside of Bowling Green, Kentucky. While attending high school, he worked in the coal mines at night. After graduating high school, Jenkins was drafted and served in the U.S. Army in 1968 and 1969 during the Vietnam War as an infantryman. After he was discharged from the Army, Jenkins returned to work in the coal mine industry.
He retired from the coal mines and didn’t do anything much with veterans’ groups until after 9-11.
“Things kind of change your mind and some of us started traveling around and working with Wounded Warriors and other groups and foundations,” said Jenkins.
According to the award citation, the Medal of Honor was for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Jenkins, a machine gunner on a reconnaissance mission, and his company came under heavy crossfire from an enemy complex. He maneuvered forward to an exposed position and began placing suppressive fire on the enemy. When his machine gun jammed, Jenkins immediately obtained a rifle and continued to fire into the enemy bunkers until his machine gun was made operative by his assistant.
He exposed himself to extremely heavy fire when he repeatedly both ran and crawled across open terrain to obtain resupplies of ammunition until he had exhausted all that was available for his machine gun. Jenkins then armed himself with two antitank weapons and maneuvered through the hostile fusillade to within 20 meters of an enemy bunker to destroy that position.
After moving back to the defensive perimeter long enough to secure a grenade launcher, Jenkins moved forward to a position providing no protection and resumed placing accurate fire on the enemy until his ammunition was exhausted. During that time he was seriously wounded by shrapnel.
Jenkins moved forward 100 meters to aid a fellow soldier that was pinned down only a few meters from the enemy. Despite his wound and several previous rescue attempts that failed at the cost of the life of one and wounding of others, Jenkins made three trips to the beleaguered unit, each time pulling a wounded comrade back to safety while ignoring the continuing intense fire and his painful wounds.
Jenkins’ extraordinary valor, dedication, and indomitable spirit inspired his fellow soldiers to repulse the determined enemy attack and ultimately to defeat the larger force. His risk of his life reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army, according to the citation.