The Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC) expresses its deepest condolences for the loss of Ambassador Alan Wood Lukens, who passed away on January 5, 2019. He was the former President of American Friends of Turkey (AFOT), based in Washington DC.
Ambassador Lukens was born in 1924 in Pennsylvania. He served in World War II in the European Front. His division was involved in the liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp in April 1945. His interview with his alma mater, Princeton University, regarding the sobering experience in the liberation, can be read
here.
Ambassador Lukens joined the United States Foreign Service in 1951, with his first post as Vice Consul in Istanbul. He then held posts throughout Africa, including Brazzaville, Dakar, and Nairobi. Upon retiring from the Foreign Service in 1993, Ambassador Lukens became involved in his local community, including Commander of American Legion Post 18 (Greenbelt, MD) and AFOT.
Ambassador Lukens was a strong supporter of Turkey for the entirety of his life, and will be greatly missed in the community, at a time of much needed dialogue and understanding.
His funeral service will be held on Friday, January 11 at 11 am.
All Saints Church
3 Chevy Chase Circle
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
