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Jack Lucas, who at 14 lied his way into military service during World War II and became the youngest Marine to receive the Medal of Honor, died Thursday in a Hattiesburg, Miss., hospital. He was 80.

Lucas had been battling cancer. Ponda Lee at Moore Funeral Service said the funeral home was told he died before dawn.

Jacklyn “Jack” Lucas was just six days past his 17th birthday in February 1945 when his heroism at Iwo Jima earned him the nation’s highest military honor. He used his body to shield three fellow squad members from two grenades, and was nearly killed when one exploded.

“A couple of grenades rolled into the trench,” Lucas said in an Associated Press interview shortly before he received the medal from President Truman in October 1945. “I hollered to my pals to get out and did a Superman dive at the grenades. I wasn’t a Superman after I got hit. I let out one helluva scream when that thing went off.”

There is not much more I can say about this other than Semper Fi, and thank you for your service, Mr. Lucas.

That said, the buzz around the left side of the blogosphere is that this is all a right-wing plot to make the left look bad.  The word “Reichstag” has been invoked on several left-leaning blogs.  Again, it is too early too tell; the facts do not support accusations from either side at this time.

Granted, if I had the tools then that I have now, I probably would have done something similar.

Then there are those for whom death is never far away.  I am speaking of those soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marine currently serving in harm’s way.  These men and women, volunteers all, serve as the shield behind which others can live safely.  For these individuals, service is a way of life, not just some word that is tossed around casually; and sometimes that service exacts the highest cost imaginable: one’s own life.  Many members of the military would not hesitate to give their lives if it meant saving the lives of those whom they are charged with protecting.

One such person was Army Maj. Andrew Olmsted.  For him, his service was his duty and his honor, and he died in the performance of that duty and in keeping with that honor.

There are many who would denigrate his life of service due to personal, political, or even religious beliefs.  There are also many who would unnecessarily bolster his death as the ultimate sacrifice a soldier can make for his country.

In his final blog post, Maj. Olmsted says to these people: “Don’t”.

And I agree with his statement.  Maj. Olmsted’s death is not something to be used as a political tool for anyone to denigrate their opponents.  I believe that politicizing one’s death cheapens that person’s life, and from what I gather from reading Maj. Olmsted’s final letter, he felt the same way.

As a Navy veteran, I offer a heart-felt “Fair Winds and Following Seas” to Maj. Olmsted and to all who have fallen in battle.