When news of the attack on Pearl Harbour reached New York City, Andrew Jackson ("Jack") Lummus, Jr. was already was in uniform - a football uniform. He was playing in the NFL for the New York Giants.
In 1940, he had been an aviation cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps, but was washed out, and went to play football for the Giants.
In January of 1942, Lummus joined the Marine Corps Reserve, eventually being sent to officer training, then being assigned to the 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division.
Landing on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945, Lieutenant Lummus commanded 3rd platoon of E Company in an assault on Kitano Point on the northern tip of the island on March 8th.
Even after a grenade riddled his body with shrapnel, Lummus fought through, eliminating three Japanese defensive positions that had pinned down his platoon.
While leading his men forward, Lummus stepped on a landmine, blowing off both of his legs.
Lying bleeding on the ground, Lummus stayed with his men, encouraging them in the attack until he finally was carried to an aid station.
He underwent emergency surgery and blood transfusions, but the damage done to his body was too great. Lummus went into shock, and died. He was twenty-nine years old.
At the aid station, he famously told the doctor, Thomas M. Brown, "Well, doc, the New York Giants lost a mighty good end today". He was transferred to the field hospital, where he underwent surgery and a transfusion of 18 pints of blood, but died of internal wounds on the operating table. He was buried in plot five, row 13, grave 1,244 in the Fifth Division Cemetery.
His body was later moved to Ennis, Texas.
For his actions that day, Lieutenant Jack Lummus was awarded the Medal of Honour posthumously, "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty."
"Jack suffered very little for he didn't live long. I saw Jack soon after he was hit. With calmness, serenity and complacency, Jack said, 'The New York Giants lost a good man.' We all lost a good man". - Major John Antonelli (his CO) told Jack's mother and his fiancée.