Teenage Marine Jumps on 2 Grenades to save his Squad 

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Imagine the courage and love for his brothers he had to have to do that.

One other thing that should have been mentioned: Later at age 40 he joined the 82nd Airborne to get over his fear of heights. On a training jump both of his parachutes failed and sent him hurtling 3,500 feet to the ground. When he hit the ground he did a commando roll and walked away unharmed. He was not called Mr. Immortal for nothing

One thing you didn't mention is at the Medal Of Honor awards ceremony there were others (of course), One of the other Marines receiving a MOH that day was Captain (then a Major) Robert Hugo Dunlap, the captain who was his platoon commander for the landing. He received his for a different action involving risking his life to direct artillery fire from an exposed position. Just mentioning it because it was kind of cool that two men from the same unit who had a connection prior to the landing would be awarded the Medal Of Honor.

He wasn't even an adult, yet showed more courage than most.

This man jumped onto 2 grenades and managed to live for the rest of his life while another soldier in Hong Kong threw himself onto a grenade and died instantly, what a mad lad this guy was.

He risked his life to save his fellow Marines. Semper Fi Jack Lucas.

I read this as a teen back in the 80s. The Judge told him I wish I had a hundred like you, most men try to get out of military service and we can’t seem to keep you out. He also went back to high school and wore his medals, damn straight he earned them.

US Marine Corp-"You're too young, you got's to go." Jack Lucas-"Yeah!!! I'll join the Army instead." US Marine Corp-"OK OK OK!!! You can stay."

He wasn't just looking out for himself but also his brothers in arms. That's one excellent soldier👊🏻

These types of war stories are so interesting really war time is one of the most horrible time and seeing some risk there life to save other is so great

Fun fact: the circular grenade shown on the video is known as the Type 4 last ditch grenade (Not the rectangular grenade). They were made of ceramic and terracotta, and we're highly unreliable, because when thrown they just broke on the impact, rendering them useless. That might be the explanation on why the second grenade didn't exploded.

He is a true hero who sacrifice himself to save his team from two grenades, but he survived with a medal of honor, when he passed away, the government state his name to the destroyer. 😎😇👏.

*The British Soldier who also sacrificed his life by diving onto a grenade:* Finally, a worthy opponent!!

To me Jack is no longer a private, but he was Captain America

Imagine jumping on 2 grenades and surviving. This man was an absolute gigachad

That ain't any normal teenage marine that's captain America

For him to enlist at such as young age, wanting to go into battle and willingly jumped on a grenade, that's the mark of someone extraordinary. For that, I salute him for all of this. May Valhalla welcome this brave Marine.

The teenage marine is so brave, while I'm scared to swim because I still don't know how to swim...

People say that they would sacrifice their life at any time. This may be true, but you would never know until you were in that moment.

My dear grandfather, Nikolai was a decorated WW2 veteran too. Back in 2015, I had the opportunity to witness the traditional immortal regiment campaign in Alaska. 2022 is a very special year, I can't wait for this October.

Back again with my request lol. I'd love to see a video about the British soldier eric harden, during the liberation of the netherlands in 1945 there was a slaughter at a field, it was mid winter and reinforcements were ways out. There were alot of injured people in the battlefield freezing and beelding to death, eric left base camp and ran out mutliple times saving people. Every time he ran out he got shot at and hit mutliple times. After being ordered not to go back out. He went another time but this time he got shot in the head by a sniper. For his heroic deeds he was given the victoria cross for his herooc deeds

My dad joined the USMC in 1953 when he was 13. He wrote a letter to my grandmother telling her that he was getting deployed to Korea. She dimed him out and he was kicked out. He joined again in 55 and stayed in the marines until 1960. A year later he joined the US Army and eventually the Green Berets. Rest in peace dad. Gary "Goofy Grape" Gilmer SFG Camp A325 Duc Hue Vietnam

Interesting fact : Captain Robert Dunlap the company commander that Jack served under at iwo jima also received the medal of honor at iwo jima for his actions at directing naval gunfire. 25%of the medals of honors presented to marines during wwii were for actions at iwo jima. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hugo_Dunlap

“We’re gonna have to kick you out” “That’s fine, I’ll join the army” “ANYONE BUT THOSE BASTARDS”

What a legend rest in peace

That man gets my complete respect

Stories like this fill me with pride for my marine corps and for my country.

I remember reading that Jack had pieces of shrapnel in his chest for the rest of his life. Truly an American Hero.

Thank you simple history! And maybe you can make a video about my great great uncle Billy Barker, a Canadian ace pilot in the great war who shot down 50 planes.

Most teens: I am sneaking out to have some fun ! Jack Lucas:

Great video as always. Though I think you have a bit too much focus on military history, so here's a few (mostly) non-military topics id be happy if you made a video about: 1) The Hansa, the first multinational cooperation? 2) Tulipmania, the first speculation bubble 3) Life as a nun/monk in a medieval monastery 4) The life inside the forbidden city, how Chinese emperors rules 5) The roman senate, how it worked 6) Famous Greek philosophers, Platon/Socrates 7) The life of Einstein 8) Vikings in Vinland, Leif eriksson

1:55 I love the generosity of m1 garand ping

In Jump School, both his chutes didn't open. He survived a fall from 3,500 feet to go on and dive on the grenades.

I got some interesting and underrated national suggestions: *Ioan Sion* - The WW2 Romanian general who blew up a T-34 tank with a bag of grenades *Maria Zaharia* - The 12 year old soldier girl who died giving vital information to the Romanian Army (regarding the German army's movements) during WW1 and made them win the Battle of Marasesti *Marin Lungu* - The Youngest WW2, 6 year old Soldier who fought the Nazis and lived *Ecaterina Teodoroiu* (who recently got a new banknote in Romania and a world record at that) - The first female officer of WW1's Romanian Army aka the "Joan of Arc of Romania".

I love how his response to being caught was that he'll join the Army if they kicked him out of the Marines

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

This story deserves a movie for sure

Narrator “medics usually don’t carry arms.” Medic: sees enemy charging immediately emptys clip. classic 😂😂

It doesn't matter how old you are, anyone can be a hero. Although I wonder what would've happened if he stomped on a grenade. Does anyone know what happened if you stomped on a grenade?

Jack Lucas such a man on his age, big respect to saving his comrade o7

Damon, I’m only 15 and I couldn’t imagine me fighting in a war, props to Jack, may he rest in peace

That's incredible .. the mentality this young man had at such a young age is insane .

Excellent stoked fantastic job fellows!! Very good job indeed and rest in peace, Jack, you were a brave and honorable man. 🇺🇸🥇🌎

You forgot Mr. Lucas actually enlisting in the Army during the Vietnam War as an infantryman in the 82nd Airborne in 1961 (when Vietnam was just starting to heat up). He would later get commissioned as an Infantry Officer (in his early 40s) and achieve the rank of Captain before getting discharged from the Army due to a parachute jump accident.

I guess you could say "they were blown away by his heroism"

Marines: Your Young and You will be discharged Jack: So the Army is nice this time of year Marines: *Surprised Pikachu face*

This fourteen year old malingered his way into the marines, qualified sharpshooter, and got shipped to Pearl Harbor before his superiors discovered his actual age. He then snuck aboard a ship, and for the price of rank demotion was allowed to join the landing party. He finally took a grenade to the chest, saving his comrades, and spent months in medical rehab. Won a Medal of Honour, joined the 82nd Airborne in his 40's, lived up to the good age of 88, and had a destroyer named after him. Crazy to imagine this all began with a fourteen year old breaking some rules. God Bless him.

I read about him in a book years ago back in middle school! It had all sorts of heroic WWII accounts. Wish I could find that book again.

This is what true power of friendship looks like.

“I’ll just join the army” “Nevermind, best not waste ya”

“He emptied the entire clip into him.” This’s my only complaint, is saying the M-1 Carbine used a clip, when it used a magazine. Other than that, this’s a inspirational video.

Brave kid

Simple History, I am grateful that you present the stories of these hero's to us. Otherwise the stories of their valor would be lost through time.

You can't make these tales of heroism and craziness up.

I love stories like this.

This man was a true hero. Rest easy Marine we have the watch.

I love that you added the distinct M1 Garand ping in clips

Dude was a 9th grader enlisting to war

Not one but 2 grenades....... He still wanted to fight and give his best.

You should do one about Calvin Graham. A sailor in the Navy who was JUST 12 years old while serving during World War 2. And was the youngest to ever fight in the 20th century.

The amount of extreme courage and national pride/patriotism he had.

Similar to that Canadian in Hong Kong who throw himself to a grenade

Teenagers then: Where's the fight? I would like to join. Teenagers today: Where's the fight? I want to record it on my phone and seek therapy for being yelled at for not helping.

What a hero! *salute*

I hope you see this, I was diagnosed with chronic transient insomnia at a young age and I am currently 19. I have struggled to sleep my entire life and have never been able to sleep without medication. But the past few months I found your videos. I have been watching them every night and fall asleep to them every night. No other videos have done this other than the ones I find on your channel. I don’t know how, but you have genuinely put a halt to my life long sleeping illness. And I thank you for that, your videos are very important to me :)

Bless this man's service

For a man his age he is one brave man to jump on two generades and im also happy he got on that ship he must have been happy to fight

Jack Lucas was Married to my Aunt Kathy and was always so sweet to me. He bought me my first big wheel and because I didn't finish my food at Ward's I couldn't ride it. Funny Story my Grandfather and Jack both were Marines and served at Iwo Jima. If you go to the World War 2 museum in New Orleans this is the story that is told by the staff he was very influential in getting the museum built. Jack passed away in 2008 he had a heart transplant and later died of Leukemia. A part of the highway in Hattiesburg MS is named after him I remember riding in his red Chrysler Leberon convertible to buy his home as a kid and then planting a garden. His 🏅 of honor was donated to Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg by his widow. Jack actually was awarded 2 Medal of Honors I still have the book he gave me before he died. He was a great man.

Wow! What a hero!

Pfc. Harold Gonzalves did something similar on Okinawa in 1945. He did not survive. The Jungle Warfare Training Center base camp in northern Okinawa is named after him. Both truly amazing, selfless acts.

What a amazing kid and man. If only ALL Americans acted like this hero this country would be in a much better place.

DAYUM when did the animation get so good, no matter what im digging it.

Truly we shall never see a generation like them again.

Things like this inspires me

What an absolute Chad of a marine!

Thank you for this video.

I'm glad your telling his story

so much information was missing for this for instance Jack would often get sent to the brig for insubordination such as bringing beer to his barracks mates...and for knocking out a MP who tried to confiscate said beer he was the only US marine to get off the boat without a weapon his rifle jammed because it was filled with sand, blood and sea water his fellow marines thought he died from the grenade so when they went to get his dog-tags he gave them the one finger salute aka the bird. his second wife tried to hire an assassin to kill him being unaware that Jacklyn is immune to conventional weaponry, he joined the 82nd airborne to try and get over his fear of heights. he survived a drop where his parachute failed by commando rolling at the last minute...only walking away with a sprained ankle he wrote and a autobiography called "Indestructible" but overall nice to see this chad get a video on him.

Heaven is for Heroes, R.I.P. Marine, Semper-Fi.

Thank you for using my suggestion.

I'm so glad you covered this, I read about this in a book once and I always hoped you would do a video about it

It's almost as if he felt a calling to do what he did.

Ok, the fact I just came across this video is crazy timing. Me and my buddies are going to do a reenactment of the battle dedicated to him. At least after the show, I can tell visitors about this video and channel

John 15:13 _“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”_ Not to be religious but this’s what this story reminds me of.

It's incredible that a sickness finished what the grenade's started, the mad man

I read a book all about this guy, his story is insane, lots of respect for individuals with such courage

2022 Teen: "I made a RU-vid channel and got $25 on Patreon, because people live me!" 1945 Teen: "I served in WWII and was awarded the Medal of Honor, because I love my country."

On October 5, 1945, on the White House lawn, President Harry S Truman presented the Medal of Honor to Jack - the youngest recipient of that award since the Civil War. Truman told Jack, "I'd rather be a Medal of Honor winner than president of the United States." Jack joked, "Sir, I'll swap with you." True to his word to his mother, Jack, who still had about 200 tiny pieces of shrapnel in his body, finished high school and graduated from college. He was married three times and ran a meatpacking business. He wrote a book about his life called Indestructible: The Unforgettable Story of a Marine Hero at the Battle of Iwo Jima, which supplied some of the material for this story. The Americans needed 36 days to capture Iwo Jima, a' critical battle that sent the Japanese reeling toward defeat. The toll to secure the island was high: 6,821 Americans dead, 19,000 wounded. Of the 22,000 Japanese who defended the island, 20,000 died.

what a hero

Real man saved comrades lifes 💪

May he forever rest in peace for saving his comrades

Japanese soldier: I'll commit a war crime Medic: Me too Japanese soldier: NANI?!

I love how Letters and Flags by Eastwood are referenced in this video.

not all heroes fly, some are carried on a stretcher

I know simple history talked about this courageous character being the youngest medal of honor recipient in history. But one thing does stand out there was no talk about after the military along with him reenlisting in the U.S. Army then having an injury and then sometime later getting medically discharged. He had some legal problems in the future he had been in a few accidents nearly almost became homeless and then had a few runners in the law thankfully his benefits weren’t taken away but still this guy was having a rough life. Its interesting like I remember just watching something about him yet mentions and they spoke about his actions through Iwo Jima but they also talked about after his military service how he faced a rough life is niece spoke about how he had survived death multiple times through accidents car accidents fires you name it.☹️☹️☹️😢😢😢

Man I love simple history 👍🏾

I read his story in a book that was about 10 war heroes

True hero.. the men that fought in WWII were absolutely true heroes. The woman that served as nurses and other positions were true heroes also.

1:10 "the youngest recipient to be awarded the metal of honor" Pictured here looking like he's 40.