Not just a name on the Wall. Cecil Jenkins, a proud Marine from Taylors Island, was killed on a hill in Vietnam. He was only 18 years old and lost his life alongside 49 other Servicemembers. Cecil was killed in the battle for Con Thien and what remained of him was shipped home for burial. Cecil, who went by "Butch", was the son of Alonzo H. Jenkins and Florence M. Jenkins of Taylors Island. By all accounts he was a great individual and loved working on the water. He is buried at Dorchester Memorial Park in Cambridge, Maryland.
Con Thein was an outpost on a hill in the middle of a mud plain. At 2:55 AM on May 8, 1967, a green flare signaled the beginning of a punishing 300-round mortar and artillery attack on the hill. Enemy units breached a defensive wire protecting the hill, and small elements moved inside. At 4:00 AM, a reinforced enemy battalion attacked through the breach in the wire. Engineers supporting the Marines engaged in bitter hand-to-hand fighting. With reinforcements, the Marines halted the enemy penetration and sealed off the break in the wire just before daylight. In addition to those killed - one hundred ten were wounded.
We thank you for your service and sacrifice Cecil Jenkins and wonder of the life you would have lived here on Taylors Island, had you survived.
Con Thein was an outpost on a hill in the middle of a mud plain. At 2:55 AM on May 8, 1967, a green flare signaled the beginning of a punishing 300-round mortar and artillery attack on the hill. Enemy units breached a defensive wire protecting the hill, and small elements moved inside. At 4:00 AM, a reinforced enemy battalion attacked through the breach in the wire. Engineers supporting the Marines engaged in bitter hand-to-hand fighting. With reinforcements, the Marines halted the enemy penetration and sealed off the break in the wire just before daylight. In addition to those killed - one hundred ten were wounded.
We thank you for your service and sacrifice Cecil Jenkins and wonder of the life you would have lived here on Taylors Island, had you survived.
