Jacklyn H. Lucas
Jacklyn Harold "Jack" Lucas (February 14, 1928 – June 5, 2008) was an American Marine in World War II who was awarded the Medal of Honor at the age of 17 years as a private first class in the Marine Corps during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Jacklyn Harold Lucas | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Jack |
| Born | February 14, 1928 Plymouth, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | June 5, 2008 (aged 80) Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Buried | Highland Cemetery, Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | 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 | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart Medal |
During a close firefight in two trenches between Lucas and three Marines with 11 Japanese soldiers, Lucas saved the lives of the other three Marines from two enemy hand grenades that were thrown into 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 severely; the other grenade failed to 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. He later commissioned into the United States Army and reached the rank of captain.
On October 7, 2023, the United States Navy commissioned the USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) in his honor at the Port of Tampa, Tampa Bay Florida.