Anthony Santana Lugo was born on November 19, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois. His father was Santana Lugo. Sometime between his birth and his enlistment, he moved to Torrance, California. Before being drafted, Anthony worked as a barber and married Jessie R. Lugo of 2264 Del Amo Blvd. He was a Roman Catholic.

Anthony was drafted through the Selective Service on June 13, 1969. He served in the 4th Infantry Division, C Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, as a Specialist Fourth Class. He was deployed to South Vietnam, serving in the Bình Định province. Known to his comrades as “Tony,” he was described as kind and friendly, often giving haircuts to fellow soldiers.

On April 18, 1970, Anthony was killed while on patrol at the age of 21. He earned the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Vietnamese Civic Action Medal First Class, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.

Anthony is buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois. In addition to the Torrance Veterans Memorial Wall, his name is engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Panel 11W, Line 22.

Research by M. Noah Kim.