Major General Daniel Webster Jenkins was born 1907 in Floydada, Texas. He graduated from primary and advanced flying schools and was rated a pilot and commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Reserve (1929). He received his regular commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Corps and was assigned to the 3rd Attack at Fort Crockett, Texas (1930).

General Jenkins served as base technical inspector and base adjutant (1939); commander of the 78th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field (1940). Returning to the United States he served in various posts and positions (1940-1941).

General Jenkins served on temporary duty in London, England, as a military observer (1941); director of training at the Central Flexible Gunnery Instructors School at Buckingham Army AirField, Fort Myers, Fla (1942); commander of Buckingham Army Air Base; flexible gunnery officer with the 95th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force in England (1943).

On Aug. 12, 1943, he was shot down over Belgium in a B-17 and was captured and remained a prisoner of war until April 29, 1945.

Upon return to the United States, General Jenkins became deputy commander of Columbia Army Air Base, S.C., and in November 1945 assumed command of that base.

In August 1951 General Jenkins was assigned to the Twelfth Air Force in Germany as assistant chief of staff for Operations. He was named chief of staff in May 1953, and in October of that year was appointed deputy commander of the Twelfth Air Force. General Jenkins returned to the United States in July of 1954, to become commandant of the Tactical Air Command's USAF Air Ground Operations School at Southern Pines, N.C.

In August 1957, General Jenkins was assigned as deputy commander, Ninth Air Force, at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

His medals include the Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, World War II, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Medal, and Air Force Longevity Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters.

He died March 25, 1989.