Jacklyn H. Lucas

The Makings of a True Hero Iwo Jima. A lonely island south of Japan. Extremely vital to the American forces in the Pacific. Its positioning was ideal for an airbase and as a stepping stone to invade Japan, which is precisely why the Japanese did not give it up easily. Known as the D-Day of the Pacific, Iwo Jima was the only battle where more Marines died in combat than the opposing Japanese forces. It was this bloody fray that Jacklyn "Jack" Harrell Lucas cast himself into. Having signed up for the Marines at age 14 and eventually stowing away on a carrier to fight at Iwo Jima, Lucas's actions while in combat earned him a Medal of Honor. He was six days past his 17th birthday. Born on February 14, 1928, Lucas continued to serve after Iwo Jima, leaving the Marines with an honorable discharge and joining the Army as a paratrooper. After the Army, Lucas turned to business and successfully sold beef as butcher and supplier, all the while talking to young men and veterans alike about their service. He died on June 5th, 2008 at the age of 80 from leukemia. Despite his young age in 1945, Lucas had already established who he was a person, and who he wanted to be. He displayed his citizenship when joining the Marines, his determination to get Iwo Jima, and his selflessness when he saved the lives of his squadron. But it was not until Jack Lucas set foot on the sands of Iwo Jima did he understand what it meant to be a hero. On February 20th, 1945, Jack Lucas's actions proved that he was a true hero by demonstrating selflessness, determination, and citizenship in the face of danger.

A true hero is selfless, and when Jack Lucas jumped on a grenade to save the lives of others, he became a hero. After storming the beach at Iwo Jima, Jack Lucas's squad was on patrol when Japanese troops ambushed them. After a brief firefight, two grenades were lobbed from the Japanese at Lucas's squad. With no time to throw them back, Jack Lucas jumped onto the grenades without hesitation: "'I didn't think. I just immediately reacted and did what I had to do,' Lucas told USA Today last year" (Nelson). The phrase "I didn't think...[I] did what I had to do" translates the fact that Lucas's selfless nature prevented him from doing anything but jumping on those two grenades, as well as the fact that Lucas did not even have to think about the potentially fatal consequences of his actions. Jack Lucas readily covered the grenades with his body, fully knowing that his sacrificing gesture could have cost him his life. His actions speak volumes compared to any words, for Lucas was ready to die to save the members of his squad so that they, in turn, could help the other Marines subdue Iwo Jima. As the writer of MarineMedals.com, B. Carr, puts it, Jack Lucas was awarded his Medal of Honor because of ". his inspiring action and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice, he not only protected him comrades from certain injury or possible death, but also enabled them to rout the Japanese patrol and continue the advance". Jack Lucas had realized that he was a part of something bigger, and knew that if one man died to save the lives of countless others, the sacrifice would be worth it. So when the time came for that fateful choice to be made, Lucas did not hesitate because he knew that even if he was killed, it would not have been in vain, for the rest of his squad would have been able to complete their mission. By using the phrases ".inspiring action." and ".valiant spirit of self-sacrifice..." to describe Lucas, it is understood that he was recognized for his bravery and selflessness with the highest honor one can be bestowed with: a Medal of Honor for saving the lives of many with the threat of a painful death. It is no wonder that most Medal of Honors are given out for an action of self-sacrifice, as sacrificing oneself goes against the basic need of survival.

Jack Lucas's fierce determination and commitment to do what was right made him a person of worth, essentially a hero. Not everyone has the courage and resolve to go to war at 14, but Lucas was set on helping his fellow Americans at war: "Big for his age and eager to serve, he forged his mother's signature on an enlistment waiver that would have allowed him to join the Marines at 17 rather than the usual 18. But in fact he was by then only 14..." (Jack Lucas Obituary). Yes, Jack Lucas lied. But he lied for something he believed in, something he felt was worthy, and he was so determined to do his part he willingly signed up at 14. The phrase ".eager to serve..." reminds us that Lucas was committed and willing to do what was right in his mind, and not everybody can stand up for what they believe in. And Jack Lucas excelled in training, something that takes courage, discipline, and fortitude: "At 15 his aggressive spirit made him the best soldier in his platoon. At 16 he stowed away on a ship bound for Iwo Jima. And just days after his 17th birthday, Jacklyn H. Lucas acted with such valor that he became the youngest Marine ever to receive the Medal of Honor" (Homestad). When someone has a dream or a vision, they will do anything to make it happen. All Jack Lucas wanted was to serve his country as best he could, and this can be deduced from the phrase "At 15 his aggressive spirit made him the best soldier in his platoon" (Homestad). Nothing can be accomplished without hard work and grit, and both traits Lucas had in spades.

In the words of John F. Kennedy, ".ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country", meaning people should step up for their country, display their citizenship. And Jack Lucas stepped up: "'Though I was only an eighth-grader . . . I would not settle for watching from the sidelines when the United States was in such desperate need of support from its citizens,' he said in his book" (Nelson). Lucas understood the sacrifices one would have to make when one's country was at war, and he was prepared to make them. This is the true definition of citizenship, putting your country's needs before your own self. And the effects of citizenship still echo among us as "In his State of the Union address, President Bill Clinton wanted to recognize several Americans who had performed stellar feats of citizenship. Jack Lucas was one of them. 'Fifty years ago in the sands of Iwo Jima,' Clinton said in his address to the nation, 'Jack Lucas taught and learned the lessons of citizenship'" (Homestad). Citizenship is not taught in a classroom with empty phases; it is learned when a person sacrifices for their country's greater good. The phrase "'Jack Lucas taught and learned the lessons of citizenship'" means that citizenship can be translated to others by actions, yet still be discovered by the person performing an act of citizenship. Citizenship is just as important today as it was 70 years ago, and Jack Lucas's action and words still continue to inspire other veterans and regular people.

When the grenade came at him and dropped to the sand at his feet, Jack Lucas did not hesitate. He dived on it with no regrets, and when a second grenade landed in the sand, he pulled that underneath him as well. Only one exploded, but Lucas's actions demonstrated his selflessness, determination, and citizenship, the makings of a true hero. Jack Lucas inspires me to stand up for what I believe in, and I feel very connected to his dedication to the military, as both my parents are Commanders in the Navy. Both have gone on deployments throughout my life, and so I understand the cost and courage it takes to serve your country. And even though Jack Lucas was only 14, he had the courage and tenacity to pursue his dream of doing what was right for him. People can talk all they want about right and wrong, but unless they plan to do something about it, talking is useless. It is the actions that count. Whether somebody makes a speech of revolution or they fight for their country's sake does not matter. What matters is that they believe in their actions and dreams, and they see to it that it comes true. Many men died on the bloody sands of Iwo Jima. But many more would have died if the island had been left to the Japanese. When someone fights for a cause they believe in with all of their soul, then their cause has always been worthy. Perhaps that was the lesson learned by Jack Lucas and all the other men fighting on the morning of February 20th. Perhaps Lucas and the other men on that beach felt entirely different. But Jack Lucas did the right thing in his mind, and that is who a hero is. A hero is just simply someone who does the right thing.

Works Cited

Carr, B. "Jacklyn H. Lucas." Marine Medals. Marine Medals, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2014. .

Homstad, Daniel W. "SULFUR ISLAND's YOUNGEST HERO. (Cover Story)." World War II 19.10 (2005): 54-60. History Reference Center. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.

"Jack Lucas, 80; Earned Medal of Honor at 17." New York Times 6 June 2008: B7(L). Biography in Context. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

Kennedy, John Fitzgerald. "John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address." The White House. Washington D.C. 20 Jan. 1961. Speech.

Nelson, Valerie J. "Youngest Marine to Get Medal of Honor." Los Angeles Times [Los Angeles] 6 June 2008: n. pag. Los Angeles Times. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. .