Since childhood, Jack Lowe at all times envisioned a future serving within the army.
Jack’s nice grandfather was a pilot within the Marine Corps. His grandfather served within the Navy through the Vietnam Struggle. Each of his mother and father served within the Marine Corps.
So naturally, Jack deliberate to hitch the US Marine Corps upon graduating highschool in keeping with his household’s proud custom of army service. Nevertheless, in March 2022, as a junior in highschool Jack obtained devastating information—he was recognized with Ewing Sarcoma, a uncommon type of bone most cancers.
Within the weeks following his prognosis, Jack obtained 36 proton radiation remedies whereas concurrently finishing six months of in-patient chemotherapy. Inside six months of his prognosis, Jack was deemed most cancers free and marked the milestone by “ringing the bell” as he left the hospital.
In August 2023, Jack went in for surgical procedure to have a rod and pins put into his left femur to assist assist the bone whereas it continued to heal from the remedies. Throughout the process, he advised his physician he had been experiencing intense ache in his again and legs all summer season.
Throughout the process, scans and checks had been carried out. Docs found the most cancers had returned and unfold to his higher physique. They instantly began Jack on six weeks of experimental chemotherapy; nevertheless, the most cancers aggressively grew and unfold to different locations in his physique.
Additional testing revealed the most cancers to be chemotherapy resistant and his oncology staff has declared him terminal with solely a brief window of life. Jack requested his household to cease therapy as a result of he was bored with being “poked and prodded.”
“Our best weapon is the preventing spirit present in every Marine.” Brig. Gen. Walker Area, the commanding basic of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and the Japanese Recruiting Area.
Following his terminal prognosis, a lot of Jack’s family and friends started reaching out to see if they might make his dream of turning into a U.S. Marine a actuality. The Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith obtained the request and accredited Jack for the title of Honorary Marine.
On November 1, Jack was designated an Honorary Marine at his dwelling in Flowery Department, Georgia, by Brig. Gen. Walker Area, the commanding basic of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and the Japanese Recruiting Area.
With Marines and household in attendance, Area eliminated his private Eagle, Globe, and Anchor from his uniform and handed it to Jack’s father Daniel, a retired Marine. Visually emotional, Daniel awarded the EGA to his son.
Throughout the ceremony, Area praised Jack for his resiliency.
“Our best weapon is the preventing spirit present in every Marine,” mentioned Area. “All through this very difficult time, Jack has displayed a tenacious battle underpinned by regular resolve and a wry, witty humorousness. Henceforth, we as Marines embrace him as one in every of our personal.”
