A Kingston Springs family will welcome home their son 1Lt. Joe Jenkins, a Blackhawk and an Apache helicopter pilot for the National Guard. Troop N, Fourth Squadron of the 278th Armored Calvary Regiment, a Smyrna-based Blackhawk unit that was a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom will be returning home this week.
1Lt. Joe Jenkins is a 1991 Harpeth High School graduate. He enlisted in the US Army for 3+ years as an Airborne Infantryman. Jenkins was stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia and was deployed to Ft. Davis, Panama, Central America for a year. He then was stationed at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. After completing his tour of duty he then enlisted in the National Guard as a Combat Military Police soldier and enrolled in the ROTC program at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro.
Jenkins met his wife Katie, of Brookeville, Maryland who received her masters in Elementary Education, while attending MTSU. He graduated and continued his military service as a commissioned officer in the National Guard. He received flight training at Ft. Rucker, Alabama earning the coveted Aviator Wings.
Upon notification of mobilization 1Lt Jenkins volunteered to switch units and pilot the Blackhawk in order to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2003 1Lt Jenkins, a former Apache pilot, landed an Apache Helicopter at the Harpeth Middle/High School for the students during their career week.
Joe will be retuning to his wife, Katie, along with their 23 month old son, John Brady. 1Lt. Joe Jenkins proudly mentioned, "I missed my son's first birthday but luckily I'll be here for his second on Thanksgiving Day." Also looking forward to his return are his parents, Mary and Arnie Jenkins of Kingston Springs; his brother and sister-in law, Lou and Shannon Jenkins of Kingston Springs along with his niece and nephew, Kiely and Alex and his sisters, Nicky Jenkins of Chicago, IL and Becky Jenkins of Kingston Springs. As a "Welcome Home Tribute" his sister Becky has created a framed picture of his family as seen above.
Welcome home, and thank you 1LT. Joe Jenkins
South Cheatham area residents came out of their homes and businesses, and pulled over their cars to welcome 1Lt. Joe Jenkins home from his long tour of duty. There were posters, signs, balloons, and happy smiling faces awaiting the local resident and his family when he came home last week. Thanks to efforts made both in Pegram and Kingston Springs, there were also 2 fire trucks, (one from each town), an ambulance and police cars to make some noise, light some sirens, and put on the best little short notice parade ever.
The family’s neighbors also came out to welcome the local soldier home.
Welcome home, Joey, and thank you.
