Jacklyn "Jack" H. Lucas, also known as "Mr. Immortal" or "The Indestructible Man," was a US Marine who defied death multiple times. Born in 1928, Jack grew up in a humble environment and was sent to military school after his father's death. He enlisted in the Marines at 14, despite being underage, and eventually saw combat in World War II. During the Battle of Iwo Jima, Jack saved his fellow soldiers by jumping on two live grenades, earning him the Medal of Honor. He survived 21 life-saving surgeries and went on to live a long life, joining the 82nd Airborne at 40 and surviving a parachuting accident. Jack sold beer for a living and met with presidents before passing away in 2008 at the age of 80.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Jacklyn H. Lucas, also known as "Mr. Immortal," was born on Valentine's Day in 1928.
2. His father, Louis Harold Lucas, died at the age of 45 when Jack was 11 years old.
3. Jack's mother enrolled him in the Edwards Military Institute in Salemburg after his father's death.
4. Jack excelled in sports and rose through the ranks at the institute, becoming a Cadet Captain.
5. He left the institute at 14 and bribed a public official to forge documents saying he was 17 to enlist in the Marine Corps.
6. Jack was sent to the Parris Island Marine Corps training depot in South Carolina for recruitment training.
7. He was declared a sharpshooter in rifle qualification and became a full-fledged marine by age 14.
8. Jack was assigned to the Parris Island Training Battalion but abandoned his post to join the fight in the Pacific.
9. He stowed away on the USS Deuel, a transport ship bound for the front lines, and survived for a month without being detected.
10. Jack participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he was a Private in the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division.
11. During the battle, Jack grabbed a rifle and charged into the fray, eventually throwing himself on a live grenade to save his comrades.
12. He was severely injured, with over 250 pieces of shrapnel piercing his body, but made a full recovery.
13. Jack received 21 life-saving surgeries and was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman at age 17.
14. He became the youngest recipient of the Medal of Honor in American history.
15. Jack returned home to complete his schooling and went on to get a college degree, go on a speaking tour, and get married three times.
16. At age 40, Jack joined the 82nd Airborne as a Paratrooper to overcome his fear of heights.
17. During a training jump, his parachute didn't open, and he fell 3,500 feet but survived by falling into a commando roll.
18. Jack achieved the rank of Captain for the third and final time in his life before returning to civilian life.
19. He sold beer in Washington for a living and met with presidents up to the end of President Clinton's time in office.
20. Jack passed away in 2008 at the age of 80 from cancer.