Jacklyn Lucas, 17-Year-Old Marine Who Shielded Comrades at Iwo Jima

Nov 23 , 2025

Jacklyn Lucas, 17-Year-Old Marine Who Shielded Comrades at Iwo Jima

Jacklyn Harold Lucas was 17 years old when he threw himself on two grenades—twice—during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Bloodied, battered, breathing through shattered lungs, the youngest Marine ever awarded the Medal of Honor survived what should have ended him. His body became a shield. His heart, a fortress.

Born Into Grit: The Making of a Warrior

Lucas grew up in the grit and grime of 1928 North Carolina, raised by a single mother after losing his father early. A fact that hardened him sooner than most. He lied about his age—no paperwork stood between him and the Marine Corps. “I wanted to get into the war. I wanted to prove I was a man,” he later said.

Raised in the shadow of the Great Depression, with a steely gaze that betrayed both vulnerability and resolve, he lived by a personal code: protect your own, no matter the cost. The Bible was with him in training and battle. Psalm 18:2: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.” Lucas carried his faith like armor, relentless and real.

Fury at Iwo Jima: A Moment Etched in Hell

February 20, 1945. The volcanic island of Iwo Jima churned with smoke and fire. Marines slogged up black ash slopes under brutal enemy fire. Lucas, serving with the 5th Marine Division, was fresh from boot camp, but fearless beyond his years.

Caught in a deadly firefight, a grenade landed near Lucas and two comrades. Without hesitation, Jacklyn pinned the grenade to his chest. The explosion shredded his flesh, tore ribs, and tore his lungs beyond repair.* Not done, the firefight’s nightmare looped—another grenade landed. Again, he dove on it.

He survived through sheer will; medics found him unconscious and nearly dead. Forty-three days in the hospital. Slashed by shrapnel. His lungs punctured. The doctors thought he wouldn’t make it. But Jacklyn did. In his words, “I just did what anybody would do.”

Medal of Honor: A Testament to Sacrifice

At 17, Jacklyn Lucas became the youngest Marine—and youngest Medal of Honor recipient—in WWII history.

His citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty… When two grenades landed near him and two other Marines, he immediately threw himself upon the grenades, absorbing their full impact and shielding his comrades from serious injury or death.”

General Alexander A. Vandegrift, Commandant of the Marine Corps at the time, said: “Lucas embodied the very highest ideals of our Corps.” Fellow Marines called him “a walking miracle.”

A Legacy Born in Blood

Lucas didn’t let injury define him. He chose life as a mentor to young veterans, speaking openly about sacrifice, courage, and faith. His story isn’t just about guts—it’s about redemption. About finding strength amid scars. About living after death touched you.

“Greater love hath no man than this,” he’d say softly, “that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Jacklyn’s actions remind us that heroism isn’t about age or rank—it’s about the refusal to let fear rule. It’s about choosing others above self when the crucible ignites.

In a world desperate for real courage, Jacklyn Lucas’s battered heart still beats for those who still fight. His body worn, scarred, but his spirit unbroken—a permanent reminder: sacrifice endures when purpose carries you beyond pain.

The battlefield fades, but honor stays.