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

Dec 30 , 2025

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

Jacklyn Harold Lucas Jr. was 17 years old when he became a human shield between death and his brothers-in-arms. Two grenades landed at his feet during a brutal fight on Iwo Jima. Without hesitation, he dove on top of them, absorbing the blasts with his body. The scars and burns didn’t just mark his flesh—they carved his name into Marine Corps history as the youngest Medal of Honor recipient of World War II.

A Boy Bound by Duty and Faith

Raised in North Carolina, Jacklyn Lucas was a restless spirit from childhood. His father was a World War I veteran, planting early seeds of discipline and respect for service. Lucas reportedly ran away from home twice to enlist but was turned away both times for being underage.

There was a fire in that boy. Not just bravado—a deep resolve born from hardened faith and a refusal to cower. He joined the Marines at 14, after lying about his age, embodying the fierce American grit that the Corps demands.

Lucas grew up steeped in scripture, carrying the armor of God in his heart long before he ever wore the uniform. At times, he would quote Romans 8:37:

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

This conviction became a lifeline amid the horrors ahead.

White Hot Hell at Iwo Jima

February 20, 1945. The beachhead was a crucible of hellfire and blood. The island’s volcanic ash promised no mercy. The 5th Marine Division slogged forward under relentless Japanese artillery and fanatical defense.

Lucas was with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. They fought through tight bunkers and narrow ridges soaked with death and desperation.

Two grenades landed nearby during an engagement. The instinct to save his comrades outweighed his own life. Lucas threw himself on top of the devices, sacrificing his body to shield others.

The blast tore through him—severe burns over 80% of his body. Even doctors thought he wouldn't survive.But he did.

Against every odd, Lucas pulled through. His scars carried the cost of valor on that scorched island. His survival was nothing short of a miracle.

Honor Etched in Steel and Ink

On May 8, 1945, Jacklyn Harold Lucas was awarded the Medal of Honor. He remains the youngest Marine to receive the medal in World War II history, just shy of his 18th birthday.[1]

The citation reads:

“Despite his youth, Private Lucas displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.”

His courage saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines. Commanders called his act “the purest form of self-sacrifice.”

Marine Corps Commandant General Alexander Vandegrift said of Lucas:

“This young man has shown the highest example of heroism in combat.”[2]

Later, Lucas continued serving in the Korean War and remained a symbol of relentless courage.

Legacy Forged in Sacrifice and Redemption

Jacklyn Lucas’s story isn’t just about a boy who survived against all odds. It’s about the raw essence of sacrifice—the kind that doesn’t seek glory but demands everything.

He carried his scars like a Bible verse etched in flesh—a daily reminder that true courage often looks like pain and survival, not just victory.

His life teaches tough truths: courage isn’t the absence of fear but the mastery of it. It’s the willingness to face death to protect others. Faith fueled his resolve; sacrifice tempered his warrior’s heart.

In a world quick to forget those who bleed for it, Lucas shines as a beacon. His actions whisper the unyielding value of brotherhood and the high cost of freedom.

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

His legacy challenges us all—not just warriors— to live with relentless purpose, integrity, and honor. To carry our burdens without complaint.

Jacklyn Harold Lucas Jr. was more than a teenage Marine. He was the living proof that even the youngest among us can stand tall in the furnace of war, covered in scars but unbroken in spirit.

Sources

1. Walter R. Borneman, The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King--The Five-Star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea 2. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Medal of Honor Citation for Jacklyn H. Lucas