Newest destroyer to be commissioned in Tampa tomorrow

U.S.S. Jack H. Lucas, named after a Marine who stowed away and went AWOL to get to Iwo Jima where he jumped on a grenade to save others in a trench and survived (actually 2 - the other didn’t detonate). Youngest MOH recipient- forged his mothers consent and bribed a notary to enlist at 17. Died in 2008 from Leukemia after some late life financial problems.

Another cool note from Wiki (where I got all this) with his history with destroyers “When the keel of the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) (christened in 2000) was laid, Lucas placed his Medal of Honor citation in the ship's hull, where it remains sealed”

Not sure why Tampa gets the honor - you would think it would be in write up, along with more than a brief bio of Lucas). Arleigh-Burke Class, Flight III. Sevastopol suggests that the future of surface ships in dock has to be rethought, but they are still the guarantors of navigational freedom worldwide.


Can watch on the internet but not attend.

Small rant. Why in the US does software not recognize Iwo Jima, a sacred space to Marines, and try to autocorrect to IWork? Maddening


What’s the deal with the giant ship? - Tampa Bay Times

 

His run of so called luck did not follow him in life financially. He was initially successful financially but had some really bad turns at the end of his life. But I take your point. Pretty amazing life story