Jack Lummus

He fought through wounds to destroy the enemy’s strongpoints

Before military service, Jack Lummus attended Baylor University and played professional football in nine games for the New York Giants in 1941. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on 30 January 1942. After recruit training and guard duty, he completed officer training at Quantico and was commissioned on 30 December 1942. He subsequently served as an instructor, undertook Raider training and joined the 27th Marines in 1944. His unit sailed to Hawaii in August 1944 and landed on Iwo Jima on 19 February 1945. Lummus served there as a Marine Corps Reserve first lieutenant with the 2d Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division. On 8 March 1945, on Iwo Jima, he led his rifle platoon against interconnected Japanese defenses. Twice knocked down by grenade explosions and wounded in the shoulder, he continued attacking and destroyed successive emplacements. He encouraged his Marines and directed supporting tank fire before assaulting another fortified position. While leading the advance against foxholes and concealed defenses, he stepped on a mine and suffered fatal wounds. His posthumous Medal of Honor recognized his leadership and persistence.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader of a rifle platoon attached to the 2d Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 8 March 1945. Resuming his assault tactics with bold decision after fighting without respite for two days and nights, 1st Lt. Lummus slowly advanced his platoon against an enemy deeply entrenched in a network of mutually supporting positions. Suddenly halted by a terrific concentration of hostile fire, he unhesitatingly moved forward of his front lines in an effort to neutralize the Japanese position. Although knocked to the ground when an enemy grenade exploded close by, he immediately recovered himself and, again moving forward despite the intensified barrage, quickly located, attacked, and destroyed the occupied emplacement. Instantly taken under fire by the garrison of a supporting pillbox and further assailed by the slashing fury of hostile rifle fire, he fell under the impact of a second enemy grenade but, courageously disregarding painful shoulder wounds, staunchly continued his heroic one-man assault and charged the second pillbox, annihilating all the occupants. Subsequently returning to his platoon position, he fearlessly traversed his lines under fire, encouraging his men to advance and directing the fire of supporting tanks against other stubbornly holding Japanese emplacements. Held up again by a devastating barrage, he again moved into the open, rushed a third heavily fortified installation and killed the defending troops. Determined to crush all resistance, he led his men indomitably, personally attacking foxholes and spider traps with his carbine and systematically reducing the fanatic opposition, until, stepping on a land mine, he sustained fatal wounds. By his outstanding valor, skilled tactics, and tenacious perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds, 1st Lt. Lummus had inspired his stouthearted marines to continue the relentless drive northward, thereby contributing materially to the success of his regimental mission. His dauntless leadership and unwavering devotion to duty throughout sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.