Lt. Col. Joseph Anthony “Loosh” Lucia III USMC died on Nov. 20, 2010, in Charleston, S.C., from complications of multiple myeloma/plasma cell leukemia.

Joe was born on March 7, 1968, in St. James Parish. He graduated from St. Charles Catholic High School in LaPlace in 1986 and from Tulane University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on Dec. 30, 1991, through the Platoon Leaders Course. In 1992, he graduated from the Basic School as a member of Basic Officer Class 2-92. He was assigned to flight school in Pensacola, Fla., and graduated in 1994 as an AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter pilot.

Following flight school, Lt. Col. Lucia was assigned to HMLA 269, 2nd Marine Air Wing. While assigned to HMLA 269, he participated in Operations Joint Guard, Southern Watch and Desert Thunder as a member of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in the Arabian Gulf. In 1998, he was assigned duty as a forward air controller with 3rd Battalion 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. While assigned with 3/8, he participated as a member of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Operation Avid Response in Izmit, Turkey; Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo; Operation Shining Hope in Albania; and Operation Allied Force in the Adriatic Sea. Following his tour with 3/8, he was assigned as a flight instructor at VT-6 NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Fla., from 2000 to 2002, where he was recognized as Flight Instructor of the Year in 2001.

In 2002, he was selected for transition training as a jet pilot and from 2002 to 2004 he was assigned to VT-7 and VT-9 aboard NAS Meridian, Miss., for transition training. Upon completion, he selected the F/A 18 Hornet and was assigned to VMF(AT) 101 in San Diego. From 2006 to 2008 he was assigned as an F-18 pilot and executive officer at VMFA(AW) 533 MCAS Beaufort, S.C., where he participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2008 he was assigned as executive officer at Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., where he served with distinction until the time of his death. His awards included the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), the Air Medal Strike/Flight (six awards), the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (four awards), the Kosovo Campaign Medal (three awards), the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the NATO Medal-Kosovo, the Humanitarian Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal (two awards).

His passing is mourned by Marines across the Corps.

He is survived by his wife, Dawn Marie Breaud Lucia; his father, Joseph Anthony “Tardy” Lucia Jr.; his mother, Dr. Judy Petit; and his siblings: Laura Lucia Wear (Blaine), Leigh Lucia Hoover (Michael), Charles V. Lucia, Dominick J. Lucia and Sydney J. Lucia. He is also survived by his in-laws, Carolyn Duhe Applewhite and Michael R. Breaud; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Shannon and Teresa Breaud; and his nieces and nephews: Joshua, Ryan, Adam and Noah Hoover; Blaine Jr. and Breck Wear; and Ryan and Zachary Breaud.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joseph A. Lucia Sr. and Eula Vedros Lucia and Claude A. Petit and Melda Brady Petit.

Visitation will be at St Michael Catholic Church, 6476 Highway 44, Convent, today, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial with Fr. Wayne M. Haddad, celebrant, and Fr. Mark Beard, co-celebrant. The singing of the national anthem and an F/A 18 flyover will follow. A bereavement reception will follow services at the Judge Poche House near the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Ave., 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851 or the Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 AC Skinner Parkway, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., at a date to be determined.

Rose Lynn Funeral Services is in charge of the arrangements. To sign and view the family guest book, please visit www.roselynnfuneralhome.com.