Arlon Jenkins - WW2 Marine and Pearl Harbor Survivor who fought on Guadalcanal, Guam and Iwo Jima. Episode 3 of 4

James Arlon Jenkins was an American Marine who served through some of the fiercest fighting of World War II. After enlisting in 1940, he witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor before deploying to the Pacific theater, where he saw continuous action during the grueling campaigns on Guadalcanal, Guam, and Iwo Jima. Following the war, he completed occupation duty in Japan before being discharged with a disability caused by recurring bouts of malaria and severe stomach ulcers contracted during his service.

Returning to civilian life in Oklahoma, Jenkins worked to overcome the physical toll of tropical illness and combat trauma. He supported his family through shoe repair and pursued studies in mechanical engineering, ultimately building a stable postwar career that concluded with 18 years of service for the Tulsa Airport Authority. 

Support the show