Jacklyn Lucas Youngest Marine to Earn Medal of Honor at Iwo Jima

Jan 08 , 2026

Jacklyn Lucas Youngest Marine to Earn Medal of Honor at Iwo Jima

Jacklyn Harold Lucas Jr. was seventeen — barely a boy — when he stood between death and his brothers in arms. In the chaos of Iwo Jima, with hand grenades raining down, he did the unthinkable: dove on top of those deadly orbs, burying them in his chest so others would live. He became the youngest Marine to earn the Medal of Honor in World War II. They called him a hero, but he carried that scar for life—a badge of sacrifice etched in flesh and soul.

Born with Fire in His Veins

Harold Lucas came from a modest background in Plymouth, North Carolina. Raised on tales of duty and grit, he carried a faith as steady as his heartbeat. No adult supervised his enlistment—he lied about his age to join the Marines in 1942. Seventeen and determined, he embodied the fierce resolve that only war can forge.

Faith for Lucas wasn't just words. He clung to scripture in the darkest hours. The words from Isaiah 41:10 whispered in his heart: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee." That promise drew strength from beyond himself. A kid with a conviction, ready to face hell for country and comrades alike.

The Battle That Forged a Legend

February 1945, Iwo Jima. A volcanic wasteland soaked in blood and flame. Japanese forces entrenched like shadows, throwing grenades and gunfire at every Marine scramble. It was hell on earth.

On D-Day plus 3, Lucas’s unit faced a sudden grenade barrage. Two enemy grenades landed near him and his fellow Marines. Instead of diving away, Lucas did the impossible. He lunged forward, covering both explosives with his body.

The first blast knocked him unconscious. The second grenade tore flesh and bone from his legs and arms. Yet he shielded three others. Saved lives at the cost of his own youth.

More than bravery, it was selflessness pure as judgment day. One moment, one split-second decision. A boy who chose sacrifice over survival.

Medal of Honor and Words That Endure

His citation paints a tale carved in valor:

“While advancing under heavy enemy fire, Private First Class Lucas unhesitatingly threw himself upon two grenades… His indomitable courage, unselfish actions, and inspiring devotion to duty… reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.”[^1]

He was hospitalized for months, surviving wounds that should’ve ended him. President Harry Truman pinned the Medal of Honor on Lucas on October 5, 1945 — an unforgettable moment sealing his place in history.

His own words, stripped of glory, show the weight of his scars:

“I didn’t want to die, but when those grenades came, I knew what to do. I just did what anyone would do for their brothers.”[^2]

Comrades called him “the bravest Marine they ever saw.” Yet Lucas remained humble, a testament to grace born in blood and vulnerability.

Legacy Etched in Flesh and Faith

Jacklyn Lucas left a legacy carved in sacrifice and redemption. Not just a medal. Not just a story. But a raw reminder of what it means to stand for something bigger than yourself.

Generations of Marines and soldiers find in his story a lighthouse in the fog of war. Courage isn’t born from absence of fear—it’s born from choosing others over self. It’s a scar you wear around the heart.

And in that choice, there’s a purpose deeper than bullets and brass. Lucas’s life echoes Romans 12:1:

“...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God...”

His body bore the literal scars of sacrifice. His soul carried the weight and grace of redemption. He survived WWII only to serve his community and country in peace, reminding us all that valor doesn’t end when guns fall silent.

He didn’t seek glory. He sought to save the lives of the men beside him. That day on Iwo Jima, a boy became a man—a man who leapt into death so others could see tomorrow’s light.

Remember Jacklyn Harold Lucas not just as the youngest Medal of Honor recipient. Remember him as the living proof that chosen sacrifice changes the course of history—and redeems even the darkest ground.

[^1]: U.S. Marine Corps, Medal of Honor Citation for Jacklyn Harold Lucas, 1945. [^2]: Lucas, J.H., Interview with the Veterans History Project, Library of Congress, 1994.