Honoring Our Heroes

Specialist Henry Craig Jenkins: Age 69

Specialist (SPC) Henry Craig Jenkins served six years in the U.S. Military including three years of active duty in the U.S. Army and three years in the U.S. Army Reserve. His Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was Law Enforce - ment and Corrections. He received the following medals, awards, decorations and citations: National Defense Medal, Expert Rifleman Marksman Badge, 45 Caliber Piston Badge and Good Conduct Medal.

SPC Jenkins was born 1954 at Montgomery, AL, to his parents, the Harrison and Autria Mae Jenkins. He was reared at Montgomery and graduated from Jefferson Davis High School. While growing up, he was a member of the Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts of America, and he worked as a caddy at a golf course, as a forklift driver at a brick company and as a worker at concessions at ball games.

SPC Jenkins attended Alabama State University of one year and then enlisted in the U.S. Army August 17, 1973. He completed six weeks of Basic Training at Fort Polk, LA, and then he completed eight weeks of Advanced Infantry Training which included training in military law enforcement for Military Police (MP) at Fort Gordon, GA. His first assignment was at Fort Bliss, TX, for nine months followed by assignment at Fort Bragg, N.C, with the 58th MP Infantry Regiment. He retired from active duty there August 28, 1976 and then went into the Army Reserve attached at St. Louis, Mo, for three years until 1979.

After his military service, SPC Jenkins attended AL State University and transferred to the University of Illinois where in 1978 he graduated with a B.S. Degree in Business Management with a minor is Accounting and Marketing. His successful business career began as General Manager with Best Products, a retail company with clothing, jewelry, etc. at North Carolina for three years.

Next, he worked as Union Representative with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company at Fayette, NC, for six years. He then started his own company, Capital City Finance, and then worked as a partner with Presidential Mortgage. He owned A Plus Mortgage 2000-2017. He retired from full time employment in 2017, but he still serves as a financial consultant for businesses. He assists others who have been treated unfairly in their employment.

SPC Jenkins and his wife, Marcella, have been married 20 years, and he has six children. They enjoy travel to beaches in FL and SC. He is a member of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church at Montgomery, AL, and he is a member of One Hundred Black Men, an organization committed to its ongoing efforts of pursuing meaningful gains for the Black Community building upon those efforts to bring solace to the displaced and confused. He is currently serving as the Commander of the American Legion Post 2019 at Pike Road, AL. He participates with this Post in the Bats for Boys Project in which they collect used baseball bats and refurbish them to provide to youth who need them. Lilly's Cleaners of Montgomery is the drop off and pick up locations for bats at: (1) 50 Dalraida Road, Montgomery, AL 36109, (2) 4224 Davenport Road, Montgomery, AL 36105 and (3) 11125 Chantilly Parkway, Montgomery, AL 36117.

SPC Jenkins' conclusion about his military service are: "I was the first of 10 children of my parents to serve in the military. It was a proud moment because no one in my family had served in the military. I was continuing my service from being a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout as it was a natural shoo-in for me to keep serving and to keep giving back to honor the country and the veterans who had served. I felt that it was my duty to serve my country during a time of chaos of racial tension and the time immediately after the Vietnam War." He would like people to remember him as a guy that cared, pushed forward and tried to make a difference.