Francis "Frank" Dugan

*Plaque not located*

*The list of Liberty Row names shows that this soldier's plaque was placed at "Wade Park to East 105th St. (Right)."

Birth: 3/1/1891, Ireland

Address: 1345 W. 67th St., Cleveland, OH

Demographics: age 27 at draft registration; single; Caucasian; emigrated 1895; occupation at draft registration Bartender on Detroit Ave. under the employ of Tom Connors; occupation per 1910 Census Bookkeeper at a Railroad Office

Appearance: Height medium, Build medium, Eyes gray, Hair brown

Draft Date/Enlistment Date/Rank: 6/5/1917; 9/19/1917; Private

Service Number: 1943639

Deployment: information not found

Action: Co A 331 Inf Sept 21/17 to Mch 18/18; Cp Merritt NJ Apr Aut Repl Draft to Apr 22/18; Co H 163 Inf to May 24/18; Co A 26 Inf to Oct 26/18. Pvt. Montdidier-Noyon; Aisne-Marne; St Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Defensive Sector. AEF Apr 23/18 to Oct 26/18. Awarded Distinguished Service Cross *(see below)

Death: October 26, 1918 at age 27 at Meuse, Haute-Marne, Champagne-Ardenne, France; cause of death Died of Wounds

Burial: burial information in Europe not found; final burial Calvary Cemetery, 10000 Miles Ave., Cleveland, OH, Section 11, Lot 542, alongside his parents and several additional family members

Next of Kin: B. Dugan, mother, 1345 W. 67th St., Cleveland, OH 

Additional Information: *Private Francis Dugan was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest military decoration awarded in the U.S. Army, recognizing extraordinary heroism in combat, second only to the Medal of Honor. While serving in Company A, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F., during October 5-6, 1918, he exhibited extraordinary heroism in action in the Argonne sector of France. When his section leader was killed, Private Dugan took command of the section and led it against a machine-gun nest, capturing three machine guns and prisoners. He was dangerously wounded in this encounter, but continued to lead his men forward until he fell exhausted from loss of blood. [Homeofheroes.com]

Father: Michael Dugan (1853-1907), born Ireland, emigrated 1888, occupation Day Laborer; Mother: Bridget Dugan Dugan (1863-1933), born Ireland, emigrated 1894, had 10 children; Siblings: Mary Dugan Wright (1886-1933); Michael J. Dugan (1886-1945); Agnes L. Dugan Gregg (1888-1939); John Dugan (1889-1938); Katherine Dugan VonBlon (1895-1956) who named a son Robert Francis, presumably after her deceased older brother Private Francis Dugan; Clyde Dugan (1899-1923); Loretta Dugan (1901-1907); James Dugan (?)