Veterans honor fallen Mason County soldier

Memorial Service Details

On Wednesday, June 24, members of Chapter 2734 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) commemorated the service of Billy Ray Lucas, who lost his life in 1970 while serving in the Vietnam War. The service was held at Bethany Christian Church in Mason County, with several members of Lucas’ family present.

About the Person

Billy Ray Lucas was born on February 2, 1950, to Charles and Margaret Lucas. He grew up in Rectorville and Orangeburg, Kentucky, and attended Rectorville and Orangeburg's elementary schools, as well as Mason County High School. He was drafted and entered the service on February 23, 1969.

Lucas trained at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Fort Polk, Louisiana, and began his tour in Vietnam on August 11, 1969, as a member of the 101st Airborne Division, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, C. Company. He was killed by a sniper in the Thừa Thiên-Huế province of Vietnam during an ambush on May 19, 1970.

Honors and Medals

• Bronze Star Medal for Valor
• Purple Heart
• Combat Infantry Badge
• Marksmanship Badge
• Parachutist’s Badge
• National Defense Service Medal
• Vietnam Campaign Medal
• Army Presidential Unit Citation
• Vietnam Gallantry Cross

Family and Community Response

Lucas' sister, Thelma Henderson, introduced those present, stating, "The Lucas family would like to extend our deepest appreciation to our brothers — Vietnam brothers — and our local VFW and everyone else in attendance today. We come together to honor and remember our brother, Billy Ray Lucas."

VFW Chapter 6254 member Larry Kuss thanked the VFW and recalled prior C. Company member reunions, noting that they held their first meeting "at the Wall" in 2015 and have met at least once a year since then in various cities across the nation. He expressed surprise at the number of attendees, saying, "I'm totally flabbergasted how many people have come, and how nice and outgoing."

Legacy and Impact

MCDonald spoke about Lucas, stating, "Billy Lucas actually died twice on May 19: died that day, serving his country, and he lost his second life for the father he could have been, or the career he could have had and the honors he'd have brought to this great state." He emphasized that Lucas was a "Vietnam soldier who walked into danger so others could walk in peace. His courage, his sacrifice and his story, it'll always be remembered."

MCDonald also shared statistics regarding the names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, noting that out of over 58,000 names on the Wall, 39,996 were 22 years old or younger, and 8,283 were 18 years old or younger. Lucas was 20 years old when he was killed.

After the ceremony, the group visited downtown Maysville, where Lucas' Veterans Memorial Banner had been hung outside the Old Mason County Courthouse.