Bob Hudson Posted June 4, 2008 Share #1 Posted June 4, 2008 JACKSON, Miss. - A World War II veteran who received the nation's highest military honor when he was only 17 is in the fight of his life, battling cancer, his biographer said. ADVERTISEMENT Eighty-year-old Jack Lucas, who lied his way into the Marines at age 14, was nearly killed when he used his body to shield his fellow Marines from grenades on Iwo Jima in February 1945. He was just a few days past his 17th birthday at the time. He received the Medal of Honor from President Truman later that year, becoming the youngest Marine to receive the award. The rest of the story is here: http://tinyurl.com/5nxr49 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101CH47 Posted June 5, 2008 Share #2 Posted June 5, 2008 Jack Lucas passed away this morning. WWII vet who earned Medal of Honor at 17 has died By CHRIS TALBOTT JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - 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, Miss., hospital. He was 80. Lucas had been battling cancer. Ponda Lee at Moore Funeral Service said the funeral home was told he died before dawn. 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." He was left with more than 250 pieces of shrapnel in his body and in every major organ and endured 26 surgeries in the months after Iwo Jima. He was the youngest serviceman to win the Medal of Honor in any conflict other than the Civil War. Full Story here - http://apnews.myway.com//article/200...D9140FLG0.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West-Front Posted June 5, 2008 Share #3 Posted June 5, 2008 Lest we Forget Jack Lucas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted June 6, 2008 Share #4 Posted June 6, 2008 WWII vet earned Medal of Honor while a teenager By CHRIS TALBOTT The Associated Press ROGELIO V. SOLIS / AP Jack Lucas became a symbol of patriotism in the decades after World War II ended. D-Day anniversary On June 6, 1944, the "D-Day" invasion of Europe took place during World War II as Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, and began the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control. JACKSON, Miss. — 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, Miss., hospital. He was 80. Mr. Lucas had been battling cancer and died after he asked doctors to remove a dialysis machine, said his wife, Ruby. Jacklyn "Jack" Lucas was 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," Mr. Lucas said in an 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." rest of the story here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nati...ucasobit06.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted June 6, 2008 Share #5 Posted June 6, 2008 Rest in Peace, Marine. Semper Fi.....Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raidercollector Posted June 6, 2008 Share #6 Posted June 6, 2008 Sorry to here the bad news about Jack passing away,He was one fine Marine to fight for our country. I was glad to meet him in person at the SOS show, He was at the last 2 shows sighing his book he wrote which I have and read. Semper Fi...... Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremiahcable Posted June 8, 2008 Share #7 Posted June 8, 2008 May your rest be full of the peace you've earned Marine. Semper Fidelis, Jeremiah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGA-DOG Posted January 7, 2010 Share #8 Posted January 7, 2010 From my fathers town Plymouth, NC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
market garden Posted January 7, 2010 Share #9 Posted January 7, 2010 The boy became a marine. The marine became a hero. The hero became an Icon. We should all take pride in being called Americans. Rest in peace brother. Market garden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGA-DOG Posted January 7, 2010 Share #10 Posted January 7, 2010 What a great man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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