Heard a grinding noise.....HELP!?!?

Parked my work truck 2.4l rwd auto on Friday afternoon and turned it on Monday morning and when I went to turn the key the dash would light up but my truck would grind and not turn on till a couple of cranks I moved the battery terminals and while turning the key while grinding it sounded like it wanted to turn so I kepted pumping the gas (like a carburated truck) and it finally turned on.......is this my starter? I let it run for 5min then turned off and turned again right up......I thought if the starter on a vehicle went out it wouldnt even crank......am i safe to assume its the starter?? Thx

 

Went to the work start truck was sitting for 45min turned the key.....and started right up.......

 

Sounds like you have a bad spot on the starter teeth on the flywheel.

 

You have to remove the little inspection cover on front of trans and turn engine by hand to check teeth.