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June 05, 2008

The Best, the Brightest

...and the youngest. Through every generation, the incredible, invincible youth of this country sacrifice over and over again for all of us.

Jack Lucas, who at 14 lied his way into military service during World War II and became the youngest Marine to receive the Medal of Honor, died Thursday in a Hattiesburg, Mississippi, hospital. He was 80.

... Jacklyln "Jack" Lucas was just six days past his 17th birthday in February 1945 when his heroism at Iwo Jima earned him the nation's highest military honor. He used his body to shield three fellow squad members from two grenades, and was nearly killed when one exploded.

"A couple of grenades rolled into the trench," Lucas said in an Associated Press interview shortly before he received the medal from President Truman in October 1945. "I hollered to my pals to get out and did a Superman dive at the grenades. I wasn't a Superman after I got hit. I let out one helluva scream when that thing went off."


Sweet dreams, Leatherneck.

Semper fidelis.

Posted by tree hugging sister at June 5, 2008 02:40 PM

Comments

God speed, Mr. Lucas. Rest in peace.

Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at June 5, 2008 02:55 PM

"I hollered to my pals to get out and did a Superman dive at the grenades. I wasn't a Superman after I got hit. I let out one helluva scream when that thing went off."

My god, what a great guy.

RIP indeed, and thanks beyond all measure.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 5, 2008 02:59 PM

Note that he was in a ton of battles and only has four awards on his chest. Nowadays every PFC with three months in grade has at least that many ribbons and gee gaws.

Posted by: Skyler at June 5, 2008 06:07 PM

The radio program I listen to sometimes on the way in to work replayed an interview the host did with him a few years ago--he was a real hoot, not to mention an amazing man. He said that his mom was uncomfortable about his going into the service, but he had threatened not to finish school if he couldn't serve, so he promised her that when he came back he would finish his education. He was "the only 9th grader who had a Medal of Honor and drove an Oldsmobile convertible"!

Posted by: Kate P at June 6, 2008 09:20 AM