March 8 Jack Lummus Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima

A Marine And NFL Leader Who Made The Ultimate Sacrifice

Jack Lummus is a name every American should know—a Marine and NFL player whose sacrifice eighty years ago today embodies the very spirit of our nation. He is a reason for every American to stand with pride and respect when the Star-Spangled Banner plays.

A standout athlete at Baylor University, Lummus excelled in both baseball and football before joining the New York Giants in 1942. But his calling was greater than the gridiron. After washing out of Air Corps flight school, he chose to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, where he earned his commission as an officer.

As Executive Officer of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines, Lummus was among the first to land on the black sands of Iwo Jima. For two brutal weeks, he led his men in ferocious combat against entrenched Japanese forces. On March 8, 1945, while leading a rifle platoon in an assault, he personally took out three enemy strongholds before stepping on a landmine that tore away his legs. Even then, in unimaginable pain, he refused to falter—urging his Marines forward, inspiring them to victory.

Evacuated to the rear, Lummus faced his fate with the same courage he had shown on the battlefield. Before succumbing to his wounds, he looked at a doctor and said, “Well, doc, the New York Giants lost a mighty good end today.”

For his extraordinary valor, Jack Lummus was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He now rests in his home state of Texas, and in 2020, Baylor University honored him with a statue near their football stadium.

Remember his name. Honor his sacrifice. Jack Lummus exemplified what it means to be an American.