Jonathon Lee Gens was born and raised in Eden Prairie, graduating high school in 1967. By January 1968, he found himself in the jungles of Vietnam as an Army Medic after volunteering for the U.S. Army.

In just four months, he reportedly saved numerous lives, carrying wounded soldiers off the battlefield.

On April 27, 1968, during a battle near Long An, Jonathon was killed by hostile enemy fire. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medals.