Why is jenkins in vietnam

Jenkins' 87 months as a prisoner of war, he spent 46 in solitary confinement. He said later that he kept his sanity by deriving calculus equations in his head and by mentally reviewing college courses and books.

His family was left in doubt about his fate for more than five years; in December , the North Vietnamese indicated in a six-line message that he was alive. After the United States signed a four-party peace pact in January , Capt. Jenkins was released along with some American prisoners. After the Vietnam War, he was active in the campaign to get a full accounting from Hanoi of American servicemen held prisoner and or missing in action.

Subscribe Manage my subscription Activate my subscription Log in Log out. Regions Tampa St. Letters to the Editor Submit a Letter. The author also hints that there's more to Jenkins than being a wimpy guy. Before they reach their first hooch, Jenkins does a spot-on impression of an officer who yelled at Perry. Perry thinks, "Jenkins was going to be fun after all. Jenkins steps on a mine the first night of patrol, making him the first man Perry sees die.

That's when the realness of war starts to hit him. It would be hard for it not to, with that. Gift of Love. Mark in Texas History. Volunteer Central. Restaurant Reports. Traffic On The Go. About Us. Send Us A News Tip. Closed Captioning. Investigate TV. Gray DC Bureau.

Latest Newscasts. Freedom Fighters: Mike Jenkins. Though the sound of artillery in the distance makes him anxious, Richie is somewhat comforted by the fact that the camp in Vietnam looks exactly like his basic-training facility back in Massachusetts. All the other guys in the neighborhood thought I was going to college. Lying in bed, Richie reflects that he joined the army in part to earn money to send home to Kenny, and in part to avoid tough questions about his impossible dreams for the future.

Over breakfast the next morning, Peewee tells Richie that he likes the army because for the first time in his life he has exactly what everyone else has—the same clothing, shoes, food, and so on.

A large African-American soldier named Rings approaches Richie and Peewee and asks them to cut their skin so that they can all become blood brothers. He explains that they need to stick together as fellow blacks. Later in the day, Peewee and Richie speak with an experienced soldier who further confirms the rumor of a coming truce.

Richie writes a letter to Kenny, telling him that the war is going to end very soon. After killing time at the base for ten days, Richie, Peewee, and a terrified young man named Jenkins are finally assigned to a camp near Chu Lai.

On the truck headed for their new squad, Peewee says he is not afraid, but Richie can tell that Peewee is just as frightened as he is. Jenkins begins crying, which calms Richie, who feels braver by comparison.