CPT Lucas was born in Granite City, Illinois on 3 June, 1957. He served at Fort Huachuca, Arizona prior to arriving at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as a pilot in Charlie Company, 158th Aviation Battalion. CPT Lucas was the unit’s first combat casualty, as his UH-60A, #002, was shot down in Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury on 25 October, 1983. He was married to Paula Lucas and had two daughters, Anne and Theresa.