The Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) is very saddened by the passing of General (Retired) Gary Luck, a former Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Command, ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, U.S. Forces Korea (1993-1996). He passed away at the age of 87 on August 13, 2024.
The 24,000 members of KDVA mourn the loss of a former 4-star commander in Korea who helped lead the ROK-U.S. Alliance through a very difficult time in the mid-1990s when North Korea developed weapons-grade plutonium at its Yongbyon nuclear facility and threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. During that crisis and other North Korean provocations and threats, General Luck was a respected voice for a strong Alliance and military in meeting these challenges.
As a successor to General Luck, I am very grateful for the example he set and for his staunch support of the Alliance and our Veterans for decades afterwards. A lifelong mentor to generations of leaders, General Luck had a significant impact on the leadership and education of the Joint Force.
We send our sincere condolences to the Luck Family and want them to know that many Americans and Koreans are thankful for General Luck’s service, leadership and example. We will miss him.
Curtis M. Scaparrotti
General, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Chairman and President
Korea Defense Veterans Association