Lummus, Jack
Jack Lummus was born on 22 October 1915 in Ennis, Texas. He attended Ennis High School and Texas Military College before earning an athletic scholarship to Baylor University. Leaving his studies early, Lummus played professional baseball for Wichita Falls, Texas, and was expected to play for the New York Giants when he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in January 1942. After recruit training at Marine Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, Lummus served there and at Mare Island, California. In the fall of 1942 he attended the Officer Candidate Course at Quantico, Virgina, receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant in December. Returning to California, Lummus served as an instructor at Camp Elliott's Infantry School until transferring to Raider Battalion duty at Camp Pendleton in June 1943. In January 1944, he was assigned to the Second Battalion, Twenty-seventh Marines, Fifth Marine Division, taking command of a company a few months later. In mid-1944 his battalion went to Hawaii, where it was stationed at Camp Tarawa.
With his unit, First Lieutenant Lummus landed on Iwo Jima on 19 February 1945, and he served as a rifle platoon leader during the desperate struggle for that island. On 8 March 1945, while taking his platoon forward against well-planned Japanese fortifications, enemy fire halted the advance. Lummus individually attacked and destroyed two strong Japanese positions, despite being injured in both assaults. Returning to his platoon, he made a third attack, destroying another strong point. Still moving foward against the enemy defenses, Lummus was mortally wounded by a land mine. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life" he was posthumuously awarded the Medal of Honor. Jack Lummus is buried at Myrtle Cemetery, Ennis, Texas.
USNS 1st LT Jack Lummus, (T-AK-3011), 1986-____, is named in honor of First Lieutenant Lummus.
This page features the only image we have concerning Jack Lummus.
