Jacklyn H. Lucas joined the military at the age of 14! Wow, what did you do when you were 14? Jacklyn Harold Lucas didn’t have time to watch iCarly and participate in Facebook drama as a pre-teen; having a muscular build, 5 ft. 8 tall and weighing 180 pounds, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve. He didn’t even ask his mom first!
He gave his age as 17 and went to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island for recruit training immediately. Lucas received the Medal of Honor for acts of heroism during the Iwo Jima campaign. He unhesitately hurled himself over his comrades upon on grenade and pulled one under himself.
When one of the grenades exploded, Lucas experienced it’s full blow. Lucas- the youngest Marine ever to receive the US’s highest military decoration- was presented the award by President Harry S. Truman at the Whitehouse on Friday, 5 October, 1945.
