Career
Lukes enlisted in the United States. Navy from Tianjin, China and served as a Landsman onboard United States Ship Colorado in Company Doctorate as part of the Korean Expedition. On June 11, 1871, during the capture of the Han River forts on Ganghwa Island, the leader of the American attack, Lieutenant Hugh McKee, was mortally wounded. Landsman Lukes and two other sailors, Seth Allen and Thomas Murphy, attempted to rescue Lieutenant
McKee but encountered heavy resistance.
In the course of the ensuing hand-to-hand fight, Allen and Murphy were killed. Lukes suffered a severe cut to the head but continued to fight.
He survived the engagement. When reinforcements arrived, they found Lukes unconscious, with 18 bayonet wounds, lying over the body of Lieutenant McKee.
Lukes remained unconscious aboard the Colorado for 39 days.
Before leaving the Navy, William Lukes obtained the rank of Seaman. Lukes suffered convulsions due to brain injury for the rest of his life. He died at the age of 76 and is buried in Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, California.