<p>
“Clean, simple, valiant, well-beloved,<br />
Flawless in faith and fame,<br />
Whom neither ease nor honors moved<br />
An hairsbreadth from his aim.”</p>
<p>
The ideals and life of <em>John Porter Lucas</em> are well expressed in the above lines by Rudyard Kipling, written on the death of Lord Roberts.</p>
<p>
Kipling loved soldiers and soldierly qualities in men and John Lucas, too, loved his soldier men and they loved him in return. He likewise loved the verses of Kipling and I know of no other man—even excepting the late Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., who frequently joined with him in recitations—who could recite for hours at a time the stirring martial lines written by that renowned author.</p>
<p>
My first acquaintance with John Lucas occurred in March 1942 when he was selected to command the III Corps, then being reorganized at Fort McPherson, Georgia; and he, upon the recommendation of Army Ground Forces, approved my detail as his Chief of Staff of that Corps.</p>
<p>
The background of service of General Lucas from the time of his graduation with the class of 1911 until my service with him in early 1942 is not too well known to me personally except for those matters which he personally related. These comments, therefore, are written in a very personal way based upon an intimacy and fraternity which marked the happiest years of my career.</p>
<p>
Upon graduation he was assigned to the Cavalry and went on Foreign Service with his regiment at Fort Stotsenburg, P. I. He returned to the United States and was stationed on the Texas border, where at one time he served as aide-de-camp to the Department Commander, General Bell, in conjunction with his lifelong friend Lieutenant General W. H. Simpson. It was here that these two staunch friends developed the nickname of “Hoot” for one another. The story behind that name is too long for inclusion here, but the friendship developed then was such that the jeep used by John Lucas in the Italian campaign bore the name of “Hoot” in big white letters. During this border service he was also in camp during the early morning raid by the Mexican bandit Pancho Villa at Columbus, New Mexico. The well-known, story-telling ability of John Lucas loses no effect in his recounting the facts of that episode.</p>
<p>
When World War I started he was detailed in the Signal Corps and organized the Signal Battalion of the 33d Division. In the early actions of this division he was seriously wounded in the head by shell fire and evacuated to a base hospital in England. This injury at times caused severe headaches throughout his career. Although his period of service with the 33d Division was not long, his influence with that command was great, and the respect in which he was held is exemplified by a letter from his close friend, Mr. Fred Waterous of Saint Paul, Minnesota, who in 1918 was appointed as Adjutant of the Signal Battalion. He writes on 2 February 1950, “It’s over a month since the passing of our mutual friend John Lucas. It’s hard to let loose of strong ties of the past and I suppose that’s why I’m writing you. My father’s and Jack’s pictures hang opposite each other in my office. Next to my family he came next. Perhaps it’s because he did so much for me at a time in life when it left its lasting effect.</p>
<p>
I knew no man who had such a liberal combination of character, personal integrity, and loyalty to his friends. I think any man is the better for having been associated with him”.</p>
<p>
The foregoing is indicative of the deep devotion of many, many friends—friends of long standing and those of only short acquaintance, civilian as well as military personnel, including those of foreign countries. All these speak in highest terms of the character, integrity, and devotion of his services.</p>
<p>
In 1920 he transferred to the Field Artillery, an arm of the service to which he was extremely devoted and in which his success as a leader and commander won high praise. He served a tour of duty as P.M.S.&T. at Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College at Fort Collins, Colorado, where he not only formed strong friendships with the College faculty but with the civilian community as well. He was a member of their Rotary Club and served there as Past Master of the Masonic Lodge. This community had a great attachment for him and he had spoken frequently of the possibility of again being associated with that institution and community upon retirement.</p>
<p>
Upon graduation from the Army War College in 1932 he served with the War Department General Staff in the G-l Section. This detail was greatly enjoyed and, according to his own statements, made him well acquainted with the necessary attributes of a good staff officer and the proper functioning of the general staff system. The development of two corps staffs and later several army staffs during the war into efficiently-functioning organizations was dependent upon his keen insight, beliefs, and teachings in staff procedures. Staff officers serving under his command were impressed by his geniality, capabilities of keen staff direction, friendly criticism and above all his example of devotion to duty and leadership.</p>
<p>
He was detailed as a member of the Field Artillery Board at Fort Bragg, N. C., where his opinions on Field Artillery techniques were most highly regarded. In Field Artillery command positions he commanded the 82d Field Artillery (horse) at Fort Bliss, Texas, in the early thirties and the Artillery Brigade of the 2d Division at Fort Sam Houston, just prior to our entry in World War II.</p>
<p>
On December 7, 1941, he was in command of the 3d division at Fort Lewis, Washington, at which place feverish preparations ensued based upon probable enemy attacks against that area. Then in late March 1942 came his selection to reorganize the III Corps Headquarters at Fort McPherson, Georgia.</p>
<p>
Shortly after the III Corps had become truly operational, General Lucas became ill with jaundice caused by yellow fever shots received in the Fort Lewis area. He was confined to the hospital for several weeks and suffered greatly. This attack was beaten by his own indomitable will and courage, but undoubtedly left him with strong aftereffects. His military responsibilities were carried on, however, with his old-time vigor and earnestness.</p>
<p>
The corps’ training mission required constant training visits of inspections to many camps quite distant from the corps headquarters. These command inspections, as well as training visits, were conducted personally by him and of the inspecting group he himself endured more physical exertion than any other member. Approximately 15 miles per day on foot for a four-day visit were required to complete a division inspection. These inspections were followed by critiques, and it was a most vigorous and trying period for the corps commander. His insistence that he see every man in the division and his personal equipment, plus the vehicles and combat equipment, required great expenditures of energy which only few men could equal. Ten divisions, with other additional corps and army-type troops, were checked under his supervision during this period. They all later served brilliantly in combat and his common-sense leadership, coupled with an insistence upon strict maintenance and discipline, proved their worth in the performance of these units under fire.</p>
<p>
Just before mid-1943 General Lucas was sent as an observer to the North African Theater and again, shortly after his return to the United States, he proceeded to the same Theater as a special deputy to General Eisenhower. He observed the landing and operations in the Sicily operation and was assigned soon thereafter to command the II Corps in that area. During this period he saw much of, his good friend and idol, General George Patton. Visits between these two were most pleasant to witness and as soldiers they had a great deal in common, as well as respect for one another.</p>
<p>
Shortly after the Salerno landings, General Lucas was assigned command of the VI Corps then in action on the Salerno front. This Corps, consisting of the 3d, 34th, and 45th Divisions, the 504th Parachute Infantry, and many supporting corps troops, pushed forward from Salerno to Cassino, fighting strong German delaying actions on terrain most favorable to the defender. The steady comfort and assistance given by General Lucas to his division commanders assisted them materially in the execution of their assigned missions. His visits to the various hospitals to see the wounded of his command, as well as many other acts of kindness and generosity, reflected full well his interests and beliefs in the welfare of his men.</p>
<p>
About December 24, 1943 he was placed in command of the force to make an amphibious landing in the vicinity of Anzio. The famous 3d U.S. Division, the British 1st Division, a Ranger force of several battalions, the 504th Parachute Infantry and Combat Command “B” of the 1st Armored Division, were the main forces initially employed. Initial success in this operation was soon changed to a definite stalemate despite vicious attacks by both sides. In late February after the main counter blow by the Germans had been thwarted, General Lucas was for physical reasons relieved from command and returned to the United States to command the Fourth Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. This was a great disappointment; but, after a short period of testifying before a munitions board in Washington, he proceeded with old-time vigor to San Antonio and commenced again training army and corps staffs, making the necessary training-inspection visits to many divisions scheduled soon for overseas shipment. Many of his former subordinates soon joined him and his pleasure in seeing them again was just as sincere as theirs in being able to serve their distinguished leader. Another fifteen or more divisions received the benefit of his great leadership and experience with the same degree of attention as had been given before.</p>
<p>
For his exceptional services in the Italian Theater he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal, and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for the Anzio landing operations. He also received the Silver Star Medal for extraordinary heroism during a serious air bombardment of the port of Anzio. At this time he proceeded to the port and despite heavy bombing and severe ammunition explosions he re-established control and morale in this devastated area.</p>
<p>
A further award of the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Army Distinguished Service Medal was given him for exceptional services while in command of the Fourth Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from May 1, 1944 to June 10, 1946.</p>
<p>
In June 1946 orders were received by General Lucas to proceed to Nanking, China, for duty as Chief of the Army Advisory Group in that country. Comprising only a small group of some twenty or more officers initially, this organization soon grew until officer strength finally was around five hundred. Air, Naval, and Army officers, in addition to key enlisted men of these services, formed large detachments in Shanghai, Nanking, and other important cities of China. Command of such a diversified group, with the diversified interests of the component parts, was a difficult task. A rather difficult mission with possible diplomatic blunders was also always apparent. It was indeed a trying task and one which took enormous physical endurance in many ways. Through all this General Lucas operated in his calm, efficient manner, securing results where hardly any could have been expected.</p>
<p>
In mid-1947 he suffered a severe case of dysentery, which, on top of other milder attacks, confined his activity very much. He returned to the United States in January 1948 and was assigned as Deputy Commander of the Fifth Army until his death on December 24, 1949.</p>
<p>
Although not many years separated us in age I nevertheless respected General Lucas like a father. All his officers felt the same way, no matter how long they served under his guidance. He had a great sense of honor, duty, and love of country. No petty matter ever entered his thoughts. A great family man whose love of family was of the finest! He gave them his fullest devotion, even though his military life occupied his constant thoughts and interests. A great man and a great soldier!</p>
<p>
John Lucas loved his fellow men. His friends are legion, and all those friends are worth-while persons, because he had no use for sham or insincerity in an individual. He loved stories, gaiety, and strumming on his guitar at friendly gatherings.</p>
<p>
John Porter Lucas was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Sydney, Mary Brooke Boles, his daughter, and his son, John P. Lucas, Jr., were with him at the time of death at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Chicago.</p>
<p>
<em>—L. B. Reiser, Major General, U.S. Army.</em></p>
<p>
</p>