Posted on Mar 5, 2016
Youngest Vietnam War US Marine Was 14 Years Old, He Was Killed In Action Age 15
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The story of an underage US Marine who fought in the Vietnam War has been uncovered.
Dan Bullock joined the US Marines so that he could join the fight against the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. However, it wasn’t uncovered until years later that he changed his own birth certificate so that the Marines’ recruiters would believe that he was older than he was. At the time he was just 14 years old and was accept for the Marines.
After one year of combat in Vietnam in 1969, Dan was sadly killed in the conflict. He was the youngest casualty of the war at just 15 years old.
Dan Bullock joined the US Marines so that he could join the fight against the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. However, it wasn’t uncovered until years later that he changed his own birth certificate so that the Marines’ recruiters would believe that he was older than he was. At the time he was just 14 years old and was accept for the Marines.
After one year of combat in Vietnam in 1969, Dan was sadly killed in the conflict. He was the youngest casualty of the war at just 15 years old.
Youngest Vietnam War US Marine Was 14 Years Old, He Was Killed In Action Age 15
Posted from warhistoryonline.com
American History
Military History
Vietnam War
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 4
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I joined the Army on my 17th birthday. Hard to believe he did so at 14 as i was still such a baby. He deserves the respect of all of us on RP.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
SFC William Farrell - 14 seems an exception but there were a few at 16 & think the Recruiters had to know but didn't say anything.
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SFC William Farrell
Sgt Tom Cunnally - I'm sure you're right. My twin brother and I had just turned 17 and had to lie like hell and sign sworn affidavits that we didnt know where our mother was. My parents were not divorced and they wanted both signatures for us to enlist. My father, a WWII vet had no problem. Mom would not have signed.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
SFC William Farrell - We had a Marine on Iwo Jima who was awarded the Medal of Honor & only 17 & enlisted at 15 ..Not sure how he did it..
Jacklyn Harold "Jack" Lucas (February 14, 1928 – June 5, 2008) was a United States Marine who later reenlisted in the United States Army and reached the Rank of Captain. He was awarded the Medal of Honor at age seventeen for heroism above and beyond the call of duty while serving in the Marine Corps Private First Class, during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
During a close firefight in two trenches between Lucas and three Marines with eleven Japanese soldiers, Lucas saved the lives of the three Marines from two enemy hand grenades that were thrown into and lying in their trench by unhesitatingly placing himself on one grenade, while in the next instant pulling the other grenade under him. The grenade he covered with his body exploded, and wounded him only; the other grenade did not explode. He is the youngest Marine and the youngest serviceman in World War II to be awarded the United States' highest military decoration for valor.[1]
Jacklyn Harold "Jack" Lucas (February 14, 1928 – June 5, 2008) was a United States Marine who later reenlisted in the United States Army and reached the Rank of Captain. He was awarded the Medal of Honor at age seventeen for heroism above and beyond the call of duty while serving in the Marine Corps Private First Class, during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
During a close firefight in two trenches between Lucas and three Marines with eleven Japanese soldiers, Lucas saved the lives of the three Marines from two enemy hand grenades that were thrown into and lying in their trench by unhesitatingly placing himself on one grenade, while in the next instant pulling the other grenade under him. The grenade he covered with his body exploded, and wounded him only; the other grenade did not explode. He is the youngest Marine and the youngest serviceman in World War II to be awarded the United States' highest military decoration for valor.[1]
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PV2 Glen Lewis
I missed it too but no matter; the young man had guts. I'd rather he'd grown up but if he had to go there isn't a better reason than to fight for your country. Making it through Marine basic training is something to be admired in itself.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
PV2 Glen Lewis - Any kid who enlisted at 14 & died in "The Nam" can have as many tributes as we deem warranted IMHO....Plus the Kid was a Marine ..enough said
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PV2 Glen Lewis
What I forgot to put into my reply to this was any "14 year old kid" who managed to get through Marine basic training. I was in Army and it was tough enough for me at 17 and I'm pretty sure I couldn't have made it through basic in the Marines.
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
PV2 Glen Lewis - It was not a walk in the park but not too bad if you were physically fit & played sports in High School and/or College..
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