RICHMOND — For more than 200 years, since the establishment of the nation during the Revolutionary War, chaplains have provided spiritual nourishment to American soldiers in battle. In recent decades, they've worked in an increasingly treacherous environment, in order to love God, love others and serve both.
On Saturday, June 2, Army Reserve Chaplain (Colonel) Joel Jenkins was awarded the prestigious Bronze Star Medal for his tremendous religious service efforts, and his encouragement of soldiers in their spiritual development, whatever their faith, along with supporting those battling stress.
Joel Jenkins
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration which may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service.
The medal is awarded to a member of the military who, while serving in or with the military of the United States after Dec. 6, 1941 “distinguished him or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.”
Jenkins, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlottesville, was recognized for his exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the United States in a combat zone in the Baghdad-based Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq from June 16, 2006 to June 10, 2007, during operation Iraqi Freedom.
According to his Bronze Star Medal certificate authorized by the President of the United States by executive order, “Chaplain Jenkins distinguished himself as a selfless servant in the execution of the pastoral duties as he ministered to the command in an exemplary and passionate manner.
“He uplifted the community by regularly reminding them of the important role they played through selflessly serving such a noble cause. While performing remembrance services, Chaplain Jenkins demonstrated a steady commitment and compassion, ensuring the fallen personnel were given the appropriate honors and respect for their ultimate sacrifice. In addition to providing memorial services to personnel in the international zone, he put himself in harm's way without hesitation by traveling throughout some of the more dangerous regions in Iraq to attend to the needs of service members located in base camps and forward operating bases.
“Chaplain (Colonel) Joel P. Jenkins' actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of solitary service and reflect distinct credit upon himself, the multi-national security transition command-Iraq, and the United States Army.”
During his service in Baghdad, he traveled the country from the Kurdish north, to Anbar Province in the west, and to the Persian Gulf in the south to visit troops that didn't have regular contact with a chaplain. His command was also responsible for training all branches of the Iraqi military and the civilian police.
“I really was not able to take the time to reply to every card, care package, and act of kindness rendered as they arrived,” Jenkins said. “However, I did my best to save a record of each and every person and group who were so generous and kind to us. Now that things are slowing down for me, I wanted to let everyone know just how much their thoughtfulness has meant to me, my assistant SSG Kyle Bennett, and to the rest of our Command.
“We cannot thank you enough for your kindness and thoughtfulness that you have shown us. As we tried to encourage others, you encouraged us and thus ‘multiplied' our efforts. We shall never forget what you have done, and please know that you made a difference.”