He survived Iwo Jima

Ninety-four year old Gene Luckey (center), who was wounded as a US Marine on Iwo Jima in 1945, was a ‘rock star’ at Monday’s Rockdale ISD Veterans Day observance in the high school gym. Luckey and Roy Becker, also 94, (see page 6B) were the two World War II veterans in attendance. Both received rousing ovations from veterans, family members and hundreds of students when World War II vets were asked to stand by master of ceremonies Lt. Col. Art Free. “The last thing Gene said to me at this ceremony on Veterans Day 2018 was I’ll see you next year,” Free said. “And he’s here.”