KILLED IN SICILY - Pfc. Galen Dugan, 23, popular Olney young man with the 82nd Airborne Division, was killed in action in Sicily July 23, 1943 according to word received from the War Department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Dugan, 329 1/2 Whittle Avenue.
The telegram stated that the Secretary of War desires to express his deep sympathy in informing Mr. and Mrs. Dugan that their son, Private Galen Dugan had been reported killed in action in Sicily on July 23, 1943 and that a letter would follow. The wire was signed by the Adjutant General.
It was known that Galen had been in on the Sicily invasion paratroop jumps in Sicily earlier in July and no word had been received from him since a few days before the invasion began.
Fearful that he was missing or killed, his parents had written the War Department and received word that he was believed to be all right but was on a "secret mission".
The date, July 23 when Galen was reported killed was the day that the Americans moved into Palermo and were conquering all western Sicily.
Galen was one of Olney's most popular young men. He graduated from Olney High School in 1936 and was employed as driver for Fessel Cleaners before his enlistment in the paratroops. He visited home last spring shortly before leaving for Africa in April.
Surviving are his parents, Glen J. and Opal G. (Washington) Dugan, one sister, Mrs. Betty Turner of Grayville, and one brother, Pfc. Richard Dugan, U.S. Marines, stationed in the Solomon Islands, southwest Pacific war zone.
Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)
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