Jacklyn H. Lucas
| Jacklyn Harold Lucas | |
|---|---|
 
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Jack |
| Born |
February 14, 1928 Plymouth, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | June 5, 2008 (aged 80) Forrest General Hospital Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1942–1945 (U.S. Marine Corps) 1961–1965 (U.S. Army) |
| Rank |
Private first class (US Marine Corps) Captain (U.S. Army) |
| Unit |
1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division 82nd Airborne Division |
| Battles/wars | -Battle of Iwo Jima |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Purple Heart Medal |
Jacklyn Harold "Jack" Lucas (February 14, 1928 – June 5, 2008) was a United States Marine who later reenlisted in the United States Army and reached the Rank of Captain. He was awarded the Medal of Honor at age seventeen for heroism above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Private First Class in the Marine Corps during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
During a close firefight in two trenches between Lucas and three Marines with eleven Japanese soldiers, Lucas saved the lives of the three Marines from two enemy hand grenades that were thrown into and lying in their trench by unhesitatingly placing himself on one grenade, while in the next instant pulling the other grenade under him. The grenade he covered with his body exploded, and wounded him only; the other grenade did not explode. He is the youngest Marine and the youngest serviceman in World War II to be awarded the United States' highest military decoration for valor.
Lucas was born in Plymouth, North Carolina on February 14, 1928. After his father, a tobacco farmer, died when he was ten, his mother sent him to nearby Edwards Military Institute in Salemburg. He rose to be a cadet captain, and was the captain of the football team. He was an all-around sportsman, also taking part in baseball, softball, basketball, boxing, wrestling, horseback riding, trap and skeet shooting, and hunting.
Lucas was only 14 years of age, having a muscular build, 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) tall and weighing 180 pounds (82 kg), when he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve at Norfolk, Virginia without his mother's consent on August 8, 1942. He gave his age as seventeen and forged his mother's name, and was sent to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina for recruit training. During his rifle qualification, he qualified as a sharpshooter.
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