JACK LUMMUS 1ST LT USMCR: A True American Hero

Myrtle Cemetery Ennis, Texas

JACK LUMMUS First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve OCTOBER 22,1915 - MARCH 8, 1945



Andrew Jackson Lummus Jr. "was born at Ennis, Texas, on 22 October 1915, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Lummus His father was a policeman." (Mom's name was Laura Francis Lummus.)

Apparently Jack never graduated from Ennis High School. Some web-sites say because of influenza others say being in the Depression his family didn't see any sense in paying all that money for graduation (caps and gowns ,etc) . He did graduate from a Military school where he received a scholarship to Baylor University. It's said his sports endeavors kept him from graduating Baylor though he was close to graduating with a degree in physical education and his grades were satisfactory. "In the summer of 1941, he signed and played professional baseball with the Wichita Falls (Texas) Team of the Western Texas-New Mexico League. In the preceding fall he signed up with the New York Giants and was still on their roster when he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on 30 January 1942."

On a Jack Lummus web-site it tells of the tragic death on May 13, 1944 of his father, Assistant Chief of Police of Ennis. While trying to calm Oran L. Mounts who had been drunk and disorderly in a cafe at 110 NE main street in Ennis, Oran pulled out a revolver and shot Jack Sr. in the stomach right outside the establishment. 10 months later his son Jack would bravely die on Iwo Jima.



-----------------------------AND SOME GAVE ALL------------------------


CITATION:

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 22 October 1915, Ennis, Tex. Appointed from: Texas. Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Leader of a Rifle Platoon attached to the Second Battalion, Twenty-seventh Marines, Fifth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 8 March 1945. Resuming his assault tactics with bold decision after fighting without respite for two days and nights, First Lieutenant Lummus slowly advanced his platoon against an enemy deeply entrenched in a network of mutually supporting positions. Suddenly halted by a terrific concentration of hostile fire, he unhesitatingly moved forward of his front lines in an effort to neutralize the Japanese position. Although knocked to the ground when an enemy grenade exploded close by, he immediately recovered himself and, again moving forward despite the intensified barrage, quickly located, attacked and destroyed the occupied emplacement. Instantly taken under fire by the garrison of a supporting pillbox and further assailed by the slashing fury of hostile rifle fire, he fell under the impact of a second enemy grenade but, courageously disregarding painful shoulder wounds, staunchly continued his heroic one-man assault and charged the second pillbox, annihilating all the occupants. Subsequently returning to his platoon position, he fearlessly traversed his lines under fire, encouraging his men to advance and directing the fire of supporting tanks against other stubbornly holding Japanese emplacements. Held up again by a devastating barrage, he again moved into the open, rushed a third heavily fortified installation and killed the defending troops. Determined to crush all resistance, he led his men indomitably, personally attacking foxholes and spider traps with his carbine and systematically reducing the fanatic opposition, until, stepping on a land mine, he sustained fatal wounds. By his outstanding valor, skilled tactics and tenacious perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds, First Lieutenant Lummus had inspired his stouthearted Marines to continue the relentless drive northward, thereby contributing materially to the success of his regimental mission. His dauntless leadership and unwavering devotion to duty throughout sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country."

It is reported that Jack Lummus said his last words to the doctor trying to save him and they were "Well, Doc, it looks like the Giants have lost a good end"

On May 5, 1946 Harry S. Truman, President of the United States, signed the Citation awarding posthumously the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant Jack Lummus.

"On Memorial Day, May 30, 1946 at 8:00 p.m. at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Ennis, Texas, a Memorial Service, under the auspices of the American Legion and Auxiliary, was held to honor Ennis area war dead, and host a Medal of Honor Ceremony. Mrs. Laura Francis Lummus would be presented the Medal of Honor awarded posthumously to her son, 1st Lt. Jack Lummus." "Besides his mother, he was survived by two sisters, Mrs. Gilbert Wright and Mrs. Tommy Merritt." Notice how the picture captures the pride and sadness of Jack's mom. The picture, entitled "Medal for a Son", was taken by Dallas Times Herald photographer, Johnny Hayes, and was award winning.

Dynamos and Storms In Waxahachie 1889

In 1889 as Waxahachie began to assimilate to the technological advances of electricity. They had to deal with myths and superstition that surrounded electricity. Did electricity effect the atmosphere when produced by dynamos? Experts were asked their opinions on the possibility of side effects of the new advancement in Ellis County . They assured the citizens that dynamos did not cause the unusual storms that coincided with the beginning of electrical power.

From the Waxahachie Enterprise:

9-6-1889 ELECTRICTY AND STORMS -
What Experts Think of the Effects of Electric Dynamos upon the Elements. The unusually heavy rains that have fallen during the past few weeks have attracted the attention of many throughout the country, who attribute the meteorological storms in part, to the large amount of electricity generated by the numerous dynamos in operation at present.

A Star reporter interviewed Mr. West of the New American electrical arc
light company relative to the cause of the heavy rains, and in response
to questions about the dynamo-electric effects upon the elements, he
said:
"I cannot see how the electricity generated by the dynamos could effect
the elements sufficiently to induce the falling of such heavy rains as we
have had of late. People out in Nebraska and other Western states argue
that the enormous quantity of steel rails laid over the thousands of
miles of surface in the United States have, in a great measure,
exercised-an influence on the elements, through their power of attracting
heat, and conveying the same over a great extent of territory, the rails
also acting as a perfect chain of lightning rods. It is also claimed by
many of the agriculturists of the west that steam generated by
locomotives and the great velocity of railroad trains in traversing the
country has much to do with changing the electrical current. Of course, I
cannot, from a scientific standpoint, authoritatively speak as to the
absolute truthfulness of such statements
'
Mr. Robert Grimshaw, the well know scientific expert of No. 21 Park row,
upon being asked to express his opinion in regard to dynamo electricity
having an effect upon the natural elements, said:
"The amount of electricity used for commercial purposes in the United
States would, as compared with the amount of energy represented by a
single storm, be but as a drop in the bucket, even supposing that it ran to waste and became apparent in the work of storms. As a matter of fact," said Mr. Grimshaw, "of all the currents generated in any dynamo every fraction of its percent is fully accounted for, either as work done by a motor or light in the lamps supplied by the dynamos, or friction and resistance in the machine and the wires carrying the current. It is not all recovered, of course, but it is accounted for as work or waste of some sort in the system, and therefore does not go wandering about trying to disturb the elements. If it did there is not enough of it to amount to anything.

Mr. Benson Wright of No. 118 Liberty street, a well known Boston expert,
said:; " I do not care to express my opinion upon the subject, but I can
emphatically say that the electricity,generated by dynamos has nothing
whatever to do with the storms that have followed each other so rapidly within the last month."

"And There Was Light" in Waxahachie

8-29-1890 "And There Was Light,"
. Several months ago the initiatory steps were taken to establish for
Waxahachie an electric light plant. The people were tired of groping
through darkness, splashing through mud holes and colliding with men,
horses and vehicles and at last women of our enterprising citizens got
together and said: "Let there be light." As a consequence preparations
were soon commenced and last Saturday night ushered in the new era in the
city's history, "and there was light." As the shades of evening began to
hover over the city the electrical current was sent out and incandescent
stars "gleamed in the gloaming." As the evening advanced the lights grew
brighter and the people thronged the streets to witness the inauguration
of the light system.
Many people visited the engine room to see the machinery in operation.
Mr. Frank Moffett was complacently presiding at the dynamo, wearing a
look of satisfaction. Mr. D.M. Glower was here, there 'and everywhere,
showing the people the wonderful workings of electricity. Mr. Glower has
made a study of this branch of physics and while conversing with him one
gets an idea of the philosophical minds of Newton and Franklin. It fell
to the lot of the early thinkers to confine the electrical current, but
it was left for Edison to work out the problem of generation and to D. M.
Glower and his co-disciples to apply this wonderful science to lighting
the streets of Waxahachie and other progressive cities.
The people are to be congratulated on this evidence of progressive push.
There have been a few who seemed disposed to underrate this undertaking
but their mutterings will die away in the,distant valleys and as time
goes on other lights will be placed on the streets and soon the
inconvenience of traveling at night will have passed away."

-Waxahachie Enterprise

Using the information given, if the first day that electricity was used to turn on lights in the city of Waxahachie was the last Saturday from 08/29/1890 (the day of the article) then according to scphillips web page the date would be 08/23/1890. So the first day of Waxahachie's electrification was Saturday August 23, 1890.

Pictures of the Murder scene on E Pecan Tree Rd.

What's left of the 100 year old Pecan Tree on E Pecan Tree rd and Highway 77 in between Waxahachie and Italy. The tree was mistakingly cut down and mulched by a txdot contractor. Post on the tragedy is here.

Here are more pictures of the destruction.

TXDOT MURDERS 100 YEAR OLD PECAN TREE

I'm not a tree hugger but these idiots who took down and mulched this 100 year old tree must be the stupidest people in the world. Let see it's the only tree on the damn road for a mile? Maybe somebody wanted it there dummies!? The roads name is Pecan Tree Road dummies! I had seen the tree and new just by looking at it that it must have been an old trail marker. I had no idea it was that old. I do know that highway 77 was part of the old Texas Military road from the 1840's . So who knows how that pecan tree go there. I agree with Mr Jeff Browning who said "It was a tree SWAT team, there were so many people working on it. In this day and age of air pollution, when someone cuts down a tree like that, it’s a crime against humanity." TXDOT claims it's contractor was not told to cut down the tree and that TXDOT marks trees to be cut down with orange "X" marks and this tree was not. The contractor claims that they were told to use their best judgment. They say they can plant another tree there. I guess they still miss the point!

Stumped article by Waxahachie Daily Light

JF Strickland and Miss Sallie Martin's Wedding Day

8-30-1889 Orange Blossoms
Wednesday evening a very large congregation assembled at the Methodist
church to witness the marriage of Mr. J. F. Strickland and Miss Sallie
Martin. The house was brilliantly lighted, and long before the hour
appointed for the ceremony had arrived, the house was filled and many
gentlemen failed to get in. Promptly at 7 o'clock word passed down the
line, "They are coming." Every one was in a flutter to get a glimpse at
the beautiful, bride and noble groom.
The bridal party passed up the aisle in the following order: Mr. L.
Buckner and MISS Mabel Meredith, Mr. J. B. Boone and Miss Mollie Briggs-,
the bride and groom, Mr. JT E. Lancaster and Miss Pat Martin, Mr. B. L.
Davis and Miss May Siddons marched to appropriate music. . The
contracting parties took position at the alter, where Rev. M. K. Little,
in a very solemn and impressive manner performed the sacred rite, thus
uniting in hold bonds two noble and loving hearts and lives.
The Enterprise tenders to its young friends, now just launched on
the conjugal seas, its hearty congratulations and wishes for them a happy
and useful life and that they may always find in each other that sweet
consolation so essential to connubial bliss.
The bride is one of Waxahachie's fairest daughters and by her genial
disposition and affable manners has won a place in the hearts of our
society people, and for a long time has been an acknowledged bell in the
social circles of Waxahachie.
_Mr. Strickland is one of Waxahchie's most enterprising merchants and for
business tact, manly conduct, nobility of soul and honesty of purpose,
stands second to no man.
,The bride was dressed in an elegant costume of white India silk,
entraine, decollette and sleeveless - long silver mits reaching to the
shoulders, finished with tastefully arranged^ garnitures of ribbon and
lace. The front of the skirt fell in graceful folds, and the full court
train seemed familiar with every movement of its wearer. The neck was
filled with Point de Alcon lace, reaching to the waist and caught with a
spray of orange blossoms-the same flowers held'in place the delicate
bridal veil as it fell in sweeping folds to the ends of'thetrain. In her
hand she carried a bunch of Marechalniel roses. So beautiful a costume,
on so charming a creature, could not fail to excite admiration.
The Alter - • 8-30-1889
Strickland "and Miss Sallie Martin.

Note a later report states that the wedding took place on August 28th 1889. The Strickland's never had children.