Corporal Lucas was a member of the 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was seriously injured in South Korea on 9 September 1950 and returned to duty on 23 October 1950. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 24 April 1951.

Lucas was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.