Reuben E. Jenkins

Reuben Ellis Jenkins (February 14, 1896 – July 29, 1975) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army.

Early life Jenkins was born in Cartersville, Georgia, on February 14, 1896. In April 1917, he enlisted as a private in the Georgia National Guard.

World War I In August 1918, Jenkins was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He served throughout World War I, commanding companies in the 31st, 77th and 1st Infantry Divisions.

Post-World War I Jenkins remained on active duty after World War I. In 1920, he was stationed at Camp Taylor, Kentucky. In 1922, he graduated from the Infantry Officer Course.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Jenkins served in assignments of increasing responsibility. He graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1936. In 1937, he was assigned to Fort Moultrie, South Carolina.

Jenkins graduated from the Army War College in 1938, afterwards serving as an instructor at the Command & General Staff College.

In 1941, Jenkins was assigned to the office of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, G-1 in Washington, D.C.

World War II In 1943, Jenkins became Chief of the Officer Branch for the Army Services of Supply.

From 1944 to 1945, Jenkins was assigned to the 6th Army Group as a brigadier general. As Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G-3), he took part in planning the organization's combat operations, including its advance through Bavaria into Austria and post-war occupation duty.

Post-World War II In 1946, General Jenkins was assigned as President of the Army Ground Forces Board.

Jenkins was named assistant director of the Joint U.S. Military Advancement and Planning Group in Athens, Greece in 1948, advanced to Director, with promotion to major general, and remained in Greece until 1951. In this assignment, he took part in the successful American effort to defeat a communist insurgency by rebuilding, equipping and training the Greek Army, which had been degraded by nonstop combat during World War II.

From 1951 to 1952, General Jenkins was the Army's Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, G-3.

Korean War Jenkins was assigned to command IX Corps in Korea, receiving promotion to lieutenant general and serving until he was wounded, after which he was evacuated to the U.S. to recuperate. In October 1952, Jenkins led a successful counterattack in the Chorwon Valley to defeat a North Korean attack, for which he received the Distinguished Service Cross. The citation for his DSC reads:

In 1953, Jenkins returned to Korea as commander of X Corps, serving until his 1954 retirement.

Awards and decorations In addition to the Distinguished Service Cross, Jenkins was a recipient of two Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart.

Retirement and death Jenkins lived in the area around Fort Benning and was active in several veterans' organizations and civic groups, including the Rotary Club.

General Jenkins died in Columbus, Georgia, from a self-inflicted gunshot on July 29, 1975.

The Reuben E. Jenkins Papers are part of the collections of the U.S. Army's Military History Institute in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.