SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 – The National Museum of the Marine Corps reunited a World War II veteran with the tank he drove during the Battle of Iwo Jima, in a ceremony held Aug. 15 at the Museum Support Facility.
In a powerful moment of living history on the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, Cpl. Leighton Willhite, 100, stood beside “Lucky,” the very M4A3 Sherman tank he drove ashore during the assault on Iwo Jima in 1945. He was joined by his son, grandson and great-grandson.
“It’s amazing,” Willhite said. “I never thought I would see the tank again. That tank was my life.”
At just 19 years old, Willhite landed with C Company, 5th Tank Battalion, in Lucky during the opening assault on Iwo Jima. Lucky was among the Marine Corps’ newest standard tanks and saw its combat debut on the island. Willhite’s crew supported Marines near Hill 362A, north of Mount Suribachi, and carried out rescue missions under heavy fire.
In one defining moment, when a fellow tank, Jeannie, became trapped, Willhite volunteered to cover his commander, Lt. Leonard Blake, as they moved to rescue the crew. Willhite was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device for valor, and Blake received the Silver Star.
After the battle, Lucky returned to Hawaii in April 1945 and was one of 72 tanks selected for conversion into CB-H5 flamethrower tanks in preparation for the planned invasion of Japan. Following the war, Lucky was transferred to Camp Lejeune, N.C., where it remained largely unnoticed, in the woods of 2nd Tank Battalion’s training areas, until the early 2000s, when it was recovered and entered the Museum’s collection. At the time, its historical significance was not yet known.
Its true identity came to light in 2023, when Jon Bernstein, the Museum’s Arms & Armor Curator, conducted a routine inspection of the tank, then on loan to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. During the inspection, Bernstein noticed a set of distinctive weld scars, marks unique to the 5th Tank Battalion’s improvised self-protection modifications for Iwo Jima.
Through careful analysis of those scars, along with field modifications and comparisons to archival photographs and historical records, Bernstein was able to positively identify the tank as belonging to C Company, 5th Tank Battalion. Further paint excavation revealed the name “Lucky” and the unit’s tactical markings, confirming not only the tank’s battlefield role but also its direct connection to its original crew, including Cpl. Willhite.
Today, Lucky is one of only six confirmed Sherman tanks from Iwo Jima still in existence.
“Today is the end of the beginning and is the culmination of two years of research and piecing the story together. To bring Cpl. Willhite back together with the tank he drove in battle is to bring that story to life.” Jon Bernstein, National Museum of the Marine Corps’ Arms & Armor Curator
This reunion carried even greater meaning because 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Emperor Hirohito announcing Japan’s surrender and ending World War II. For Willhite, who celebrated his 100th birthday on April 9, standing beside Lucky once more was more than just a personal milestone—it was a living reminder of the service and sacrifice of Marines in one of the Corps’ most pivotal battles.
As the number of World War II veterans dwindles each year, gatherings like this become increasingly rare and precious. They offer something no book or artifact alone can provide: the chance to see history embodied in those who lived it.
“Having Cpl. Willhite here, standing beside this tank again after 80 years, is very special,” said Museum Director Keil Gentry. “It is a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice that defined the Marines who fought on Iwo Jima.”
Lucky’s journey is far from over. It is now undergoing a meticulous restoration to its 1945 appearance, so that future visitors will not only see the tank but also sense the bond it once shared with the Marines who fought beside it. For generations to come, Lucky will stand as a storyteller in steel, carrying forward the legacy of those who battled on Iwo Jima.
The National Museum of the Marine Corps, located near Marine Corps Base Quantico in Triangle, Va., is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines—past, present and future. With immersive exhibits and world-class collections, the museum preserves and shares the history, culture and traditions of the Marine Corps. For more information, visit www.usmcmuseum.com.
Karen Amaro
Training Command