Governor Jon S. Corzine

CORZINE ORDERS FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF-STAFF
TO HONOR U.S. ARMY CAPTAIN JOHN F. DUGAN

TRENTON – In honor of U.S. Army Captain John F. Dugan, Governor Jon S. Corzine signed the following Executive Order calling for the United States and New Jersey flags to fly at half-staff on Wednesday, April 12, 2006.

The Executive Order is below:
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 8

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:

1. 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.

2. This Order shall take effect immediately.