Kids Those Days

[Mike Serpa]

Private First Class Jacklyn Harold Lucas (14 February 1928 – 5 June 2008) was a United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Iwo Jima campaign — for unhesitatingly hurling himself over his comrades upon one grenade and for pulling another one under himself. One of the grenades exploded, and Lucas absorbed the entire blasting force of it with his own body. Private First Class Lucas, the youngest Marine ever to receive the United States' highest military decoration,[1] survived and was presented the award by President Harry S. Truman at the White House on Friday, 5 October 1945.

Although only 14 years of age, having a muscular build, 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) tall and weighing 180 pounds (82 kg),[3]he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve without his mother's consent[3] on 6 August 1942. He gave his age as 17, and went to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina for recruit training.

He was evacuated to the hospital ship Samaritan, and then treated at various field hospitals prior to his arrival in San Francisco, California on 28 March 1945. He eventually underwent 21 surgeries. For the rest of his life, there remained about 200 pieces of metal, some the size of 22 caliber bullets, in Lucas' body — which set off airport metal detectors.[4] wikipedia

The Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February – 26 March 1945).

He was 17 when he received his Medal of Honor.

 

[hanna260]

Well, you know he didn't spend his time playing video games and talking on his Iphone...

An incredible young man. And I'll have you know: my poison is the computer, not Iphones and video games.

 

[AUG]

The 24th Wisconsin (MacArthur's regiment) was in Emerson Opdycke's Brigade "Opdycke's Tigers" at Franklin and took part in the famous counter-attack around the Carter House. MacArthur was wounded several times in the melee there.

Here's a good article on CWTrust's site:
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefield...istory-articles/beyond-the-battle-arthur.html

 

[leftyhunter]

Arthur MacArthur went to war as a lieutenant at the age of 16 and earned the Medal of Honor for valor at Missionary Ridge in 1863 when he seized the colors and led men of his regiment up the slope with the cry "On, Wisconsin!" He was only 19 when he was promoted to colonel and later became a distinguished general in the postwar U.S. Army and the father of an even greater commander, Douglas MacArthur. Kids these days--any comments?

has an interesting contrast per Shelpy Footes :The Civil War a narrative" President Davis's own son was a member of a street gang in Richmond"the wildcats' and Davis tired to negotiate a truce between the two gangs that where fighting. I don't have a copy of the book but maybe someone does. Street gangs back then may of been a bit different then todays gangs being more concerned over fighting for turf then say selling drugs since drugs where not illegal until 1913 and pot not until 1937. Just go's to show different kids did different things.
Leftyhunter

 

[hanna260]

Kids these days--any comments?

Taking it a bit off-topic but if I may- http://www.parenting.com/gallery/kids-who-make-difference.

 

[FarawayFriend]

Taking it a bit off-topic but if I may- http://www.parenting.com/gallery/kids-who-make-difference.

Honestly, when I was your age these articles just made me sick. All these brave, bright, flawless kids - and I was just normal. But then.. I WAS just normal.

 

[hanna260]

Honestly, when I was your age these articles made me just sick. All these brave, bright, flawless kids - and I was just normal. But then.. I WAS just normal.

They make me a little sick too. All these amazing accomplishments and what have I done with my life? I....managed.... to.... ummm... get an A on my math test? And FF- I'm sure you were a much more special kid than you remember.

I just have a bit of knee-jerk reaction to the good-old "Kids, these days! What can't they be more like kids back in those days?" Which isn't say either you or rhett said that, just that I wanted to remind you all that kids in my generation are all doing pretty amazing things too. While I...get... an A on my math test.

 

[ole]

Kids will never be kids like their parents were. The Dad didn't get to finish high school and The Mom never went, but they made dayum sure that we did.

Each generation seems to carve its own path with some similarities. But each generation is different ... but I cannot comment on whether the difference is beneficial or not. Change is inevitable.

 

[Allie]

There are plenty of teen soldiers overseas right now. They do what needs doing and sometimes much more.

When I look at my husband's military ID from when he was in Panama - he was 17 when he enlisted - he looks like a baby to me. Like, dude, why did you shave your head, being bald makes you look like an actual baby. But he was a corporal in charge of a squad before he was out of his teens. My dad was 16 when he enlisted in 1945 - he was afraid the war would end before he could join it, and conveniently the Venango county courthouse had burned down with his birth record so he got his dad to go with him and swear he was two years older. I don't know exactly how old he was when he got his first bronze star in Korea but it was definitely an age before I had my first apartment without a cosigner. It's the name of the game because trotting around all day in all weathers is tough on anyone older than about twenty-two. We don't promote teens to upper levels of command these days, but many are still carrying more responsibility than most people three times their age.

And that's not even touching the situation in Africa where child soldiers are still the norm.

If you really want to be impressed by what children are capable of, read about some children in third world countries who work full time to support their families. By children I mean there are four-year-olds in India getting up every morning and walking to work to weave cloth. I barely have coherent memories of being four. I still slept with a stuffed sheep.

While I can't advocate letting little kids work and fight, I would like to say that most children enjoy the idea of doing something that makes a real difference. Doing something that matters to other people is thrilling. The problem with chores and homework is that they seem so divorced from anything worth doing. Give most kids a chance to do something that feels like it matters and they will leap at it.