Fictional Character Biography
Dugan is originally portrayed as a British citizen (in Sgt Fury #1) but later retconned to be born in Boston, Massachusetts. During World War II, while working as a circus strongman, Dugan helps Nick Fury and Sam "Happy" Sawyer escape the Nazis during a mission as recounted in issue 34. Dugan joins the British Army, and when Sawyer is charged with creating Fury's First Attack Squad formally listed as "able Company", nicknamed as the Howling Commandos, Sawyer invites Dugan to transfer into the US Army and become Fury's second-in-command. Dugan's exceptional strength saves the day in several of his adventures in the Sgt. Fury comic books. Dugan is an enlisted man with the rank of corporal which during World War II he wears on the front top of his trademark bowler hat.
Dugan leaves the U.S. Army before the Korean Conflict, but rejoins during the Korean War as second Lt. under the promoted 1st Lt. Fury once again as Fury's second-in-command of the reformed Howling Commandos. Fury had already received a battlefield promotion to second Lt. earlier. Dugan remains with Fury when Fury continues his military career into the Vietnam War as shown in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos Annual #3 and 4, and later into espionage work. Dugan exact officer rank is not stated but is he addressed as "Captain" at one point. Dugan remains with Fury when Fury goes into the CIA and later into the original S.H.I.E.L.D.
Different accounts state that Dugan and other members of Fury's Howling Commandos receive the Infinity Formula to explain how they all remain youthful and active despite being all into their 60s and 70s in the modern era. Other stories contract this artificial maintenance of youth as Dugan by merely dyeing his hair and suffering a heart attack.
Later on in life he is placed in charge of internal security on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.
Dum Dum Dugan is placed in charge of a SHIELD Unit coined The Godzilla Squad, charged with the task of tracking and stopping the radioactive kaiju. Over the twenty-four issue series, Dugan goes from loathing the creature's destructive tendencies to accepting the beast's existence after Godzilla saves him on numerous occasions. Dugan later recalls a long list of his greatest nightmares, one of which includes Godzilla.
After suffering his heart attack, Dugan is formally promoted to Fury's permanent second-in-command of S.H.I.E.L.D. as "Deputy Director", though he has acted as such before his formal appointment.
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