Jacklyn Lucas, Iwo Jima Medal of Honor Hero, Youngest Marine at 17

Sep 30 , 2025

Jacklyn Lucas, Iwo Jima Medal of Honor Hero, Youngest Marine at 17

The thunder of mortars crashes like judgment. Smoke chokes the air, turning the morning into hell. At just 17 years old, Jacklyn Harold Lucas is already bleeding, but he’s got no choice. Two enemy grenades land in the foxhole where he and his buddies huddle. He doesn’t hesitate. He throws himself on them—two explosions, two lives saved by a single, raw act of pure sacrifice.

The Battle That Forged a Boy into a Legend

Born August 14, 1928, in Plymouth, North Carolina, Jacklyn H. Lucas was a kid who craved more than small-town limits. Quiet, modest faith anchored him early, but war was the crucible that broke open the depths of his character.

His code was simple: Protect your brothers, no matter the cost. He joined the Marines by lying about his age at 14, driven by a restless spirit and an iron will. The Bible verses his mother instilled stayed tucked beneath his uniform—things like Psalm 23, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” That faith would be tested in fire, and it never failed him.

Iwo Jima: Where Hell Met Him

February 1945. The island of Iwo Jima was a volcanic graveyard. Two Japanese grenades arc into his foxhole during a savage firefight. The instinct to survive was there, but the instinct to save others was stronger. Without hesitation, Lucas covered the grenades with his body. The blasts tore through him—shrapnel ripped into his arms, legs, and face.

Medics called it a miracle. “He was dead twice, and twice we brought him back,” said one attending corpsman. His wounds were horrific, but so was the cost to the men around him, which, thanks to him, was avoided.

He was just 17 years old—the youngest Marine awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II.

Valor Written in Blood and Honor

The Medal of Honor citation speaks in cold, official language about “uncommon courage” and “conspicuous gallantry.” But beneath those words lies a raw truth: a boy who dared to die for his pack.

General Holland M. “Howlin’ Mad” Smith said, “Jacklyn Lucas performed such a deed that a soldier, sailor, or airman could only do once in a lifetime.” His heroism was not born from a thirst for glory, but an unbreakable commitment to his fellow fighters.

The Silver Star and Purple Heart decorated his uniform too, but medals never captured the cost on his body and soul.

Unyielding Legacy, Eternal Testament

Jacklyn H. Lucas’s story bleeds out beyond the battlefield. It's a testament to the endless weight of sacrifice and the fragile hours on the ledge between life and death. His scars were both physical and spiritual reminders carried long after the war’s roar quieted.

His life after combat was one of quiet testimony—an example of redemption for veterans who carry invisible wounds alongside the visible.

He once said, “I wanted to be the first to charge, not the last to leave.” That reckless bravery, tempered by faith and brotherhood, carved his name into Marine Corps history.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13

Therein lies the heart of Jacklyn Lucas: not a boy playing hero, but a man answering a brother’s call. His sacrifice was devastating, undeniable proof that courage is born in choice—and it lasts long after the guns fall silent.

His story demands we never forget what it costs to stand between chaos and the fallen. It’s a legacy of mercy soaked in blood, faith, and the unyielding hope that redemption can rise from the darkest places on Earth.

Sources

1. USMC History Division, Jacklyn H. Lucas Medal of Honor Citation 2. David W. Gray, Youngest Medal of Honor Recipient: The Story of Jacklyn Lucas, Marine Corps Gazette 3. Richard D. Erkkila, Iwo Jima: Legacy of Valor, Naval Institute Press