DECATUR, IN, US
U. S. Army
SSG, CO B, 1ST BN, 27TH IN REGT, 2D STRYKER AAB, SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI
09/07/2010, BALAD, IRAQ
Twenty-six year old Army Staff Sergeant Phillip C. Jenkins died on September 7, 2010 of wounds sustained when an Iraqi soldier fired a barrage of bullets at U.S. troops in Balad, Salah ad-Din province, Iraq. His unit was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom just two weeks after the August 31, 2010, announcement of the end of combat operations on as support began in Iraqi rebuilding via Operation New Dawn. He was assigned to Bravo “Borzoi” company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment “Wolfhounds”, 2nd Stryker Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Phillip Jenkins was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant. Staff Sergeant Jenkins and another soldier were killed as they were providing security for a commander attending a meeting with Iraqi military personnel at a base about 130 miles north of Baghdad. This was Sergeant Jenkins’s second tour of duty, having previously served in Afghanistan. He also had worked as a recruiter in Indianapolis from August 2006 to October 2008. He was a 2002 graduate of Bellmont High School, and looked forward to joining the Army after graduation.
Phillip Jenkins valued his wife and daughters most. The family lives in Hawaii, where Jenkins was assigned to Schofield Barracks. Many show how important these ladies in his life were to him. In one photo he dipped his wife, Melissa as they danced and in other photos, he cradled an infant and held the hand of a child during a walk near the ocean as he enjoyed daughters Lindly and Piper.
Phillip is remembered as one of those great all-around kids who was dedicated and motivated hard worker. He was known to share a laugh and a joke and all knew that he was doing exactly what he wanted to do.
Staff Sergeant Jenkins’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Recruiter Badge, and Combat Infantryman Badge.