On August 15, 2025, in a stirring moment of living history, Cpl. Leighton Willhite—a 100-year-old Marine who served on Iwo Jima—stood once more beside the M4A3 Sherman tank, nicknamed “Lucky,” that he drove ashore during World War II. In a ceremony at the Museum Support Facility in Dumfries, Virginia, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation had the honor of supporting his return and honoring his service.
At age 19, Willhite had landed with C Company, 5th Tank Battalion, driving “Lucky” during the initial assault on Iwo Jima. Over decades, the tank faded from memory until recent research efforts recognized it by unique weld scars and archival photographs—a discovery that reconnected the weapon to its original crew.
The reunion was more than symbolic. It was emotional. Willhite shared, “It’s amazing … I never thought I would see the tank again. That tank was my life.”
His service during the battle was marked by courage: when a fellow tank became trapped, Willhite volunteered to cover his commander while a rescue was conducted under heavy fire—heroism for which he later received the Bronze Star with “V” device.
Museum leadership noted the significance of the moment: as the number of World War II veterans dwindles, occasions like this connect future generations with the living legacy of sacrifice. Director Keil Gentry said, “To bring Cpl. Willhite back together with the tank he drove in battle is to bring that story to life.”
“Lucky” now is one of only six confirmed Sherman tanks from Iwo Jima still in existence. The tank is undergoing restoration to its 1945 appearance so that future visitors may see both the machine and the bond it shared with the Marines who fought beside it.
MCHF’s Role
The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation was proud to help bring Cpl. Willhite and his family to the Museum for this reunion—a gesture that aligned with our mission to preserve Marine Corps history and ensure that service and stories are honored, not forgotten.
Moments like these do more than mark anniversaries—they anchor our collective memory in human experience. They remind us that history lives in people, not just in artifacts.