Sergeant Lusk was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a cook with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. After serious losses during the fighting near Unsan, North Korea, his company was attached to the 3rd Battalion. On 2 November 1950, he was taken Prisoner of War and died while a prisoner on 31 May 1951.

For his leadership and valor, Sergeant Lusk was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, The Good Conduct Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean War Service Medal, the European Theater Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.