First Army Tours
Delbert Jennings was born in Silver City, New Mexico, on July 23, 1936. The family moved between New Mexico and Stockton, California, and Delbert graduated from Stockton High School. He attended college for a short period and then became an electrical apprentice. On January 24, 1956, he enlisted in the army. He received basic training at Fort Ord, California, and advanced training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Jennings also completed airborne school.
He served three years and was discharged as a sergeant in January 1959. He returned to civilian life, but missed the army and reenlisted in November 1959. Although he excelled in the army he also found himself in trouble. He was reduced in rank several times, but through hard work and good soldiering made up his lost rank each time. His second army service ended in March 1964.
The Vietnam War
Delbert Jennings remained a civilian only a short time and reenlisted in November 1964. He returned to the army as a corporal. Corporal Jennings volunteered for duty in Vietnam but received orders for a 13-month tour in South Korea. The Korea tour was followed by a stateside assignment. He again requested Vietnam.
Finally his desire was realized. Sergeant Jennings arrived in Vietnam in July 1966. He was promoted to staff sergeant in September. His rifle company, Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, regularly saw action. In November 1966 Jennings was reduced rank to sergeant for insubordination 40 days before his heroic actions recognized by a Medal of Honor.
A Day of Battle
In mid-December 1966, Company C was manning a firebase Landing Zone Bird in the Kim Song Valley, Republic of Vietnam. It was named Bird for its aerial appearance of a bird's head. It was not a good defensive location, but selected because of its flat grassy area for helicopter operations.
On December 27, 1966, elements of Company C were defending Landing Zone Bird when it came under attack by a North Vietnamese army regiment supported by mortar, recoilless rifle, and machine-gun fire. Immediately Sergeant Jennings ran to a bunker astride the main attack route. He laid deadly machine-gun fire into the main attack force. Sergeant Jennings and his squad replied with effective fire, but were over numbered and had to fall back. He covered the squad as they withdrew.
As Jennings rejoined his squad, the enemy penetrated farther into the firebase. He destroyed an enemy demolition team about to blow up an American artillery weapon. With the enemy advance, he ordered his troops to withdraw farther into the landing zone. Sergeant Jennings again covered their withdrawal and he fought the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. He killed one enemy soldier with the butt of his rifle. Once his forces established a new position, he guided attack and rescue helicopters into the landing zone by illuminating it with white phosphorous grenades. This effort lighted the zone but made him visible to the enemy and drew gunfire. With reinforcements arriving and transporting out the wounded, Sergeant Jennings organized a final resistance. He helped in the recovery of the wounded.
The battle was over in one hour with heavy casualties. The North Vietnamese army lost about 266 soldiers. The 1st Cavalry Division had 58 killed in action. Later the North Vietnamese admitted that it was a disastrous defeat for them. The American victory owed a great deal to Sergeant Jennings and other cavalrymen. Two Distinguished Service Crosses and five Silver Stars were awarded to heroes of Landing Zone Bird.
After the battle Brigadier General (retired) S. L. A. Marshall (1900-1977), who was serving as an army historian recorded these events and Jennings's heroism. Marshall recommended Jennings for the Medal of Honor. Also, Marshall and Sergeant Jennings discussed drinking issues and Sergeant Jennings recognized that he had a problem. After the battle he was made staff sergeant again.
The Medal of Honor
On September 19, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded Staff Sergeant Jennings the Medal of Honor in a White House South Lawn ceremony. In this ceremony the president awarded the Medal of Honor to five servicemen.
Following the Medal of Honor presentation Jennings spent some time at Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, recovering from his wounds. He remained in the army, serving in Germany and Panama.
Fort Lewis Years
In the mid 1970s he was assigned to Fort Lewis as a first sergeant. Troops serving under him regarded his leadership highly.
He and other Medal of Honor recipients were honored guests at Jimmy Carter's (b. 1924) inaugural in January 1977. Army promotions continued and he reached the highest enlisted rank, Sergeant Major. His final army position was the important role of Command Sergeant Major 1st Cavalry Division, which he held from July 1983 to February 1985.
Jennings retired in 1985 to Olympia, Washington. He attended a number of Medal of Honor events at the state and national level that included presidential inaugurals and patriotic events. In February 1990 he and 14 other Washington Medal of Honor recipients were honored at the state capitol.
Last Years
In 1992 Delbert Jennings moved to Honolulu. In 2002 he spent some time in Lodi, California, caring for his ailing mother, Etta M. Jennings (1919-2004).
Delbert Jennings died on March 16, 2003, in Honolulu. He was initially buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. His remains were relocated to Arlington National Cemetery. A son continued to reside in Olympia.
