Maj. Gen. Alexis Lum, a veteran of three wars who served as adjutant general under two Hawai'i governors, died Aug. 20 at Straub Clinic & Hospital. He was 82.

For 15 years, Lum served as the special assistant on military affairs to U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye.

"Alex Lum was a great American patriot and a dedicated public servant. He served our nation in war and peace," Inouye said in a statement. "Many of the projects and programs that we find in the military services in Hawai'i were brought to fruition with the guidance and wisdom of Alex Lum."

Lum was born on July 17, 1927 and attended Roosevelt High School. Soon after he graduated, Lum began his military career in 1945 until he was discharged in 1947.

Lum enrolled at the University of Hawai'i, earning a degree in civil engineering and a ROTC commission as a second lieutenant in 1950. In April 1951, he was called to active duty and served as infantry platoon leader in the Korean war.

In 1953, Lum joined the Army National Guard and served in Vietnam when the 29th Brigade was activated in 1968. After the war, he became commander of the National Guard's Headquarters Installation Command and in January 1980 he was appointed head of the Hawai'i National Guard.

In 1983, Gov. George Ariyoshi named Lum state adjutant general, a position he held until 1991.

Lum is survived by his wife, Leimomi; children, Angela Thomas, Alexia Carvalho and Oliver; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace Cathedral; program at 5:30 p.m.; Mass at 7 p.m. Services with full military honors will be held from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. Thursday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Lum will be buried at 2:15 p.m. at Diamond Head Memorial Park.