#39 - Leighton Willhite - One Of The Last Surviving Iwo Jima Veterans Left

Leighton Willhite is a distinguished World War II veteran and former U.S. Marine Corps tank driver whose courage and service are woven into the history of the Battle of Iwo Jima. At just 19 years old, Cpl. Willhite landed on the black sands of Red Beach II with C Company, 5th Tank Battalion, driving an M4A3 Sherman tank nicknamed “Lucky” during one of the fiercest and most iconic battles of the Pacific Theater.During the brutal campaign on Iwo Jima in 1945, Willhite and his crew supported infantry units under intense combat conditions. In one notable act of valor, he assisted in a rescue under fire to save another Marine tank crew at Hill 362A, earning him the Bronze Star with “V” device for heroism.Decades after the war, in August 2025—on the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender—100-year-old Willhite experienced a remarkable reunion with Lucky, the very tank he operated in battle. The event, held at the National Museum of the Marine Corps’ support facility in Dumfries, Virginia, brought together his family across generations and offered a powerful, living connection to history that few veterans ever get to see.Leighton Willhite’s story is one of bravery, resilience, and enduring legacy. His service in the Marines and his bond with Lucky remind us of the sacrifices made by the Greatest Generation and the importance of preserving their stories for future generations.Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kagan-dunlap-show/id1734065968Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4CoB0WzZTGwZHj7LJIZDTI?si=3f85eb09f07249e7Kagan Dunlap Show Links:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@KaganDunlapShowX - https://x.com/KaganDunlapShowInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kagandunlapshow/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583743284059Threads - https://www.threads.com/@kagandunlapshow?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kagan.dunlap.show?lang=enWebsite - https://kagandunlapshow.com/