World War II Honoree

Edward James Duggan

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

John Duggan

Relationship

Nephew

ENLISTED FEBRUARY 23, 1942. SAW COMBAT IN NORTH AFRICA, SICILY, ITALY AND FRANCE WHILE SERVING WITH THE 36TH 'TEXAS' INFANTRY DIVISION. LANDED IN NORTH AFRICA, CONDUCTED AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING AND ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1943, LANDED IN ITALY AT PAESTUM IN THE GULF OF SALERNO. THE 36TH WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN COMBAT DIVISION TO LAND ON THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE. FOUGHT IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN AS PART OF THE 5TH UNITED STATES ARMY IN SUCH NOTABLE ACTIONS AS MT. LUNGO, SAN PIETRO AND THE RAPIDO RIVER. ON MAY 25, 1944, LANDED AT ANZIO AND WITH THE REST OF THE DIVISION, LED THE BREAKOUT TOWARD ROME. CAPTURED VELLETRI ON JUNE 1, 1944, AND OPENED THE GATES OF ROME FOR THE 5TH ARMY. PULLED OUT OF ITALY AND LANDED ON THE BEACHES OF SOUTHERN FRANCE ON AUGUST 15TH. WHILE ATTACKING AND BREAKING THE SIEGFRIED LINE, THE WAR IN EUROPE ENDED. SPENT 400 DAYS IN COMBAT, TAKING PART IN TWO ASSAULT LANDINGS. RECEIVED BRONZE STAR AND PURPLE HEART.