Jacklyn Lucas the Youngest Marine Who Earned the Medal of Honor

Nov 07 , 2025

Jacklyn Lucas the Youngest Marine Who Earned the Medal of Honor

He was a boy throwing himself at death—two grenades, one clutching his chest, the other in his hands. A thirteen-year-old heart pounding in a Marine’s chest. Fear was nowhere near the edges of his mind. Just pure, brutal self-sacrifice.

Background & Faith: A Boy’s Code, A Man’s Resolve

Jacklyn Harold Lucas was no stranger to hardship before the war. Born in 1928, a tough kid from Plymouth, North Carolina, he had a stubborn streak and a toughness bred from blue-collar roots. The nation was burning, and Jacklyn didn’t want to watch from the sidelines. He lied about his age—pulled teeth, told stories—to enlist in the Marines at just 14.

Faith wasn’t a luxury; it was a necessity. Lucas carried a quiet reverence for higher purpose, a belief that his place was on the front lines protecting his brothers. The Bible was a steadying force.

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

This scripture would come alive in the heat of battle.

The Battle That Defined Him: Iwo Jima, February 20, 1945

The island was hell’s forge—lava fields soaked with blood and grit, Japanese defenses dug deep into volcanic rock. The 5th Amphibious Corps had landed, but advancing meant walking into constant ambushes, relentless mortar fire, and grenade barrages.

Jacklyn was in a foxhole with three Marines when the hissing of a grenade sliced the air. Reflex shattered calm. Two grenades landed—one in the trench, another bouncing near his legs.

His body moved faster than his mind. He snatched both grenades, clutching one to his chest and holding the other in his hands, absorbing the blast.

The explosions tore through flesh and bone. Burns seared his face and hands. Both legs mangled beyond recognition. Yet, he lived—barely.

Fellow Marines pulled him from the crater, shocked a boy survived what others never would.

Recognition: The Youngest Marine to Earn the Medal of Honor

Jacklyn Lucas was just 17 when President Harry Truman pinned the Medal of Honor on his chest. Youngest Marine to receive the nation’s highest award for valor in World War II.

The citation reads:

“...to save the lives of others at the risk of his own, above and beyond the call of duty... He refused evacuation until the day’s fighting concluded... displaying extraordinary courage and steadfast devotion.”

General Alexander Vandegrift, Commandant of the Marine Corps, remarked:

“His action was one of those rare moments of absolute gallantry. The man was a lion among giants.”

He also earned two Purple Hearts, and the Silver Star for earlier bravery.

Doctors never thought he’d walk again. But the Marine Code runs deep—adapt, overcome, and never quit.

Legacy & Lessons: Courage Beyond Age, Sacrifice Beyond Measure

Jacklyn Harold Lucas’s story cuts through the fog of war like a bayonet thrust. A teenager who made a choice most adult warriors never could—to lay down his life, not for glory, but for the brother beside him.

He embodies the raw truth of combat: courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s action in spite of it.

His scars were worn quietly, a testament to the cost of war. He spent decades speaking to young people about honor, sacrifice, and faith.

“Our scars bind us. They remind us of who we are—and who we owe everything to.”

His sacrifice is not just history. It is the marrow of every American soldier’s legacy.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve...” — Mark 10:45

His life was a living sermon on redemption born from fire. And it challenges us to remember that heroism is often simple: a choice to protect others, no matter the cost.

Sources

1. Naval History and Heritage Command, Jacklyn Harold Lucas Medal of Honor Citation 2. Marine Corps University, Iwo Jima Campaign Histories 3. Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), February 26, 1945, “Youngest Marine Awarded Medal of Honor” 4. Medal of Honor Recipients 1863-1973, U.S. Army Center of Military History