Gary E. Luck

Gary E. Luck
Gary E. Luck
	Brigadier General Luck in 1983
Born	August 5, 1937; Alma, Michigan, U.S.
Died	August 14, 2024 (aged 87); Niceville, Florida, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1959–1996
Rank	General
Commands	United States Combined Forces Command Korea; XVIII Airborne Corps; Joint Special Operations Command; 2nd Infantry Division
Battles / wars	Vietnam War; Gulf War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Army Distinguished Service Medal (2); Legion of Merit (2); Distinguished Flying Cross (4); Bronze Star Medal (3); Purple Heart

Gary Edward Luck (August 5, 1937 – August 14, 2024) was a four-star general of the United States Army. Following his retirement, he was a senior advisor to the United States Joint Forces Command prior to that command's inactivation. He was a Senior Fellow for the National Defense University in support of the Pinnacle, Capstone, and Keystone programs.

Early life and education

Luck was born on August 5, 1937.^[1] Receiving a bachelor's degree in engineering from Kansas State University in 1959, he held a master's degree from Florida State University and a doctorate in business administration (Operations Research and Systems Analysis, a/k/a ORSA) from George Washington University. In addition, Luck attended numerous military schools and courses, to include the Armor Basic and Advanced Officer courses, Army Aviator training, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the United States Army War College.^[2]

Military career

Luck was a combat veteran of both the Vietnam War and the Gulf War and held a variety of command and staff positions throughout his Army career, to include: Chief of Staff, 8th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, Europe; Director, Force Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, HQ Department of the Army; Assistant Division Commander, 101st Airborne Division; Commanding General, 2nd Infantry Division, Korea; Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command (1987–1989); Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command; and Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm (1990–1993).

His last military assignment before retiring from active duty was as Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command (Korea)/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea.^[2] During this time the United States and North Korea nearly went to war over North Korea's development of weapons-grade plutonium at the Yongbyon nuclear facility and threat to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Luck warned President Bill Clinton that a renewal of the Korean conflict would cost "A million, a hundred billion, and a trillion," meaning 1 million American casualties, $100 billion in economic costs to the United States, and $1 trillion in industrial damage to South Korea. The crisis was ultimately defused by the successful negotiation of the USA-DPRK Agreed Framework, but North Korea eventually acquired nuclear weapons.^[3]

General Luck, then a major general, served as officer in charge of Operation Pocket Planner in November 1987, where members of the United States Army Special Operations Command responded to the Atlanta prison riots.^[4]

Post-military life

After his retirement from the Army, Luck served in a variety of senior advisory positions in support of the United States Department of Defense, overseeing exercise control during Exercise Millennium Challenge 2002, and as an advisor to then-Commander of United States Central Command, General Tommy Franks, prior to the US led invasion of Iraq in 2003. He was sent back to Iraq in early 2005 in order to investigate various areas of operation, identifying any weaknesses and reporting back to commanders at The Pentagon with a confidential assessment on what could be done to install democracy in Iraq and to set a date for the withdrawal of American and coalition forces. That same year, Luck was also the 2005 recipient of the Doughboy Award from the National Infantry Association.^[5]

Luck died in Niceville, Florida, on August 14, 2024, at the age of 87.^[1]

Awards and decorations

	Combat Infantryman Badge^[2]
	Basic Army Aviator Badge
	Master Parachutist Badge
	Air Assault Badge
	Ranger Tab
	Vietnamese Parachutist Badge
	Army Staff Identification Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
	Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
	Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
	Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters
	Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Purple Heart
	Meritorious Service Medal
	Air Medal with Valor device and bronze award numerals 15
	Army Commendation Medal
	Army Presidential Unit Citation
	Valorous Unit Award
	Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Vietnam Service Medal with five service stars
	Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars
	Humanitarian Service Medal
	Army Service Ribbon
	Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 3
	Order of National Security Merit, Tong-il Medal (Republic of Korea)
	Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal with service star (2nd class)
	King Faisal Award, 2nd class
	French Legion of Honour, Officer
	Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
	Vietnam Campaign Medal
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)