Henry Pease Jenks was born on 31 May 1914 in Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Navy on 8 October 1940. He attended Hamilton College, in New York, graduating in 1936. After undergoing Reserve Officer training, he was appointed Ensign on 6 June 1941 and reported to cruiser , soon to be commissioned. In June 1942, Jenks served on "Atlanta", during the Battle of Midway and later during the landings on Guadalcanal, first American amphibious operation of the war. In the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942, in which the Japanese move on the island was frustrated, "Atlanta" was torpedoed in the early stages of the action and damaged severely by enemy gunfire. She survived the night, but was scuttled next day off Lunga Point. Lieutenant (j.g.) Jenks was killed in the battle, for which his ship received the Presidential Unit Citation.