Leighton Willhite was just 19 when he was tasked with driving a tank called “Lucky” ashore at the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.

On Friday, 80 years after Japan’s surrender, the 100-year-old Willhite was reunited with Lucky in a moment of living history hosted by the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle.

Lucky represented the Marine Corps’ newest standard tank, which at the time was making its combat debut at Iwo Jima. During intense combat around Hill 362A, north of Mount Suribachi, Lucky’s crew supported infantry units and took part in life-saving rescue efforts. When another tank, “Jeannie,” became trapped, Willhite volunteered to cover his tank commander, Lt. Leonard Blake, as they moved to assist the stricken crew, which earned Willhite the Bronze Star with valor and Blake t

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