WHEREAS,
U.S. Army Captain John F. Dugan, Jr. of Roselle, New Jersey, graduated
from Roselle Catholic High School in 1965 and attended Union County College
for two years; and
WHEREAS, Captain Dugan subsequently enlisted in the U.S. Army and
enrolled in Officer Candidate School; and
WHEREAS, Captain Dugan served an initial tour of duty in Vietnam
as a forward observer and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart;
and
WHEREAS, Captain Dugan then graduated from flight school and was
redeployed for his second tour of duty as a helicopter pilot in Company
B, 101st Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division in 1970; and
WHEREAS, on March 20, 1971 Captain Dugan volunteered, along with
fellow soldiers, for an exceptionally dangerous assignment, the helicopter
rescue of a unit of South Vietnamese Rangers under fire in a remote area
of Laos, knowing that a previous rescue attempt had failed as a result
of heavy enemy fire; and
WHEREAS, Captain Dugan made the ultimate sacrifice, on behalf of
his country, giving his life in the line of duty while attempting to save
allied soldiers; and
WHEREAS, Captain Dugan was awarded the Silver Star for his acts of
heroism; and
WHEREAS, Captain Dugan was a committed and professional soldier and
a loving son and brother, whose memory lives in the hearts of his family;
and
WHEREAS, Captain Dugan's remains have only been recently identified and are only now being returned to his family; and
WHEREAS, Captain Dugan's patriotism and dedicated service to his country and his fellow soldiers make it appropriate and fitting for the State of New Jersey to remember him and his family, to mark his passing and to honor his memory;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
- The flag of the United States of America and the flag of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Wednesday, April 12, 2006, in recognition and mourning of U.S. Army Captain John F. Dugan, Jr. of Roselle, New Jersey.
- This Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 6th day
of April,
Two Thousand and Six, and of the
Independence of the United States, the Two
Hundred and Thirtieth.
/s/ Jon S. Corzine
Governor
[seal]
Attest:
/s/ Stuart Rabner
Chief Counsel to the Governor