Lucas John Porter “Old-Luke”, born 14-01-1890 in West Virginia, a native of Kearneysville, WV, to the former Frances Thomas, born Craighill and her husband, Dr. Charles C. Lucas, in Kearneysville, Jefferson County, West Virginia. Generations of his ancestors had been prominent in Jefferson County. After education in the local schools, John attended the West Point,
class of 1911. His fellow graduates included numerous future General officers, such as Charles P. Hall, Herbert Dargue, Paul William Baade,
Ira T. Wyche, William H. H. Morris Jr., Frederick Gilbreath, John R. Homer, Jesse A. Ladd, Thompson Lawrence, Alexander Surles, Raymond Albert Wheeler, Karl Slaughter Bradford, Gustave H. Franke, Harold F. Nichols, James R.N. Weaver, Joseph Cowles Mehaffey and Philip Bracken Fleming. Commissioned as a Cavalry officer on 13-06-1911, he would branch-transfer to the Field Artillery in 1920. Lucas spent the first few years of his commissioned service in the Philippines, returning to the US in August, 1914. Lucas was stationed at Columbus, New Mexico, where he served as the commander of the Machine Gun Troop of the 13th Cavalry. On 09-03-1916 he distinguished himself in action against Pancho Villa’s raiders during the Battle of Columbus. He served during the Mexican Punitive Expedition, as an Aide de Camp to MG George Bell, Jr. at Fort Bliss, Texas
. Lucas joined the 33rd Infantry Division in August, 1917 at Camp Logan, Texas, where he continued to serve MG George Bell, Jr., commander of the 33rd as Aide de Camp. CPT Lucas then led the division’s Infantry School of Arms while the division trained for war. Promoted to Major on 15-01-1918, he was given command of the 108th Field Signal Battalion and sailed to France with this unit. He simultaneously served as the Division Signal Officer. While serving as commander of the 108th he was seriously wounded in action near Amiens, France on 23-06-1918. Major Lucas was the battalion’s first casualty, being struck by a fragment from a German high-explosive shell. Evacuated to a hospital in England, he was later sent back to the United States on convalescent leave, where he recovered from his wounds in the Washington, D.C., area. His wounds were severe enough to prevent him from rejoining the 33rd Infantry Division. He then served as commander of the Artillery Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division, nicknamed “Indianhead”
at Fort Sam Houston, Texas until July, 1941. The 2nd Infantry division had the next losses during their European campaign, killed in action: 3.031, wounded in action: 12.785 and died of wounds: 457. He was notified that he would be given command of the 3rd Infantry Division, nickname “Rock of the Marne” and “Marne Men”
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Death and burial ground of Lucas John Porter “Old-Luke”.






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