Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Thomas
A.
Jenkins
1907-05-12

–

1984-03-09

Born:

Charlotte

, 

North Carolina

Home:

Charlotte

, 

North Carolina

Buried: 

Charlotte

, 

North Carolina

Cemetery:

York Memorial Park

In the footsteps of his father Charles N. Jenkins, for whom the C. N. Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, is named, Thomas Jenkins entered a life of ministry as a Presbyterian pastor. He entered service in World War II and was commissioned a U.S. Army Chaplain. After the war he ministered to college students in the South under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A. and Westminster Foundation of the Catawba Synod of the Presbyterian Church. He also pastored in Knoxville Tennessee, and in 1966 became pastor of the Statesville Avenue Presbyterian Church in his home town of Charlotte. He completed special work at Princeton University Theological Seminary.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    *** Quartermaster Group

    Division:

    FIFTH U.S. Army

    Action Date:

    October 21, 1943
    Headquarters, FIFTH U.S. Army, General Orders No. 37 (March 7, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) Thomas A. Jenkins, United States Army, for gallantry In action against the enemy while serving as a Chaplain with Headquarters, *** Quartermaster Group, FIFTH Army near Bagnoli, Italy, on the night of 21 October 1943. In an area lit by brilliant flares and under heavy enemy fire and bombarding, First Lieutenant Jenkins, acting beyond the requirements of his office, administered to the to the dying, assisted in the evacuation of the wounded to points of safety, and helped in identification of the dead. Throughout the enemy bombing and strafing, his cool courage and disregard of his own safety so inspired the officers and men of his unit they were in large measure responsible for maintaining order and preventing greater casualties. First Lieutenant Jenkins’ devotion to his unit, beyond the call of duty, reflect high credit to the Chaplain’s Corps of the Army of the Untied States.