Monday, October 19, 2020

WW1 - Esch-sur-Alzette Cover to Brig. General Thomas B. Dugan, American Expeditionary Force

 


BG Thomas Buchanan Dugan

Brigadier General

Thomas Buchanan Dugan

1858-1940

 

·         Esch-sur-Alzette, 23 Jul 1919

·         To APO 745, 10th Infantry, 5th Division,
American Expeditionary Force

·         Forwarded to Metropolitan Club,
Washington, D.C. [b/s], 15 Aug 1919

·         Docketed Metropolitan Club [b/s], 15 Aug 1919

20g UPU Letter = 25c

1 Oct 1907 - 10 May 1921

Sender (on reverse):

Gritty Clément

Chateau, Esch-sur-Alzette


 

 111-SC-40853 - NARA - 55240829-cropped.jpg

 Near Dagonville, Meuse

1918


Dugan was born in Baltimore on July 27, 1858. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1882 and was commissioned in the Tenth cavalry.

Dugan served on the American frontier from 1882 to 1890, and he commanded a company of Apache Indian scouts from 1884 to 1885. Until 1898, Dugan served at several locations, including in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. He served in the Spanish-American War, taking part in the Siege of Santiago and the Battle of San Juan Hill.. Dugan also served in the Sanitary Corps for a short time. Afterward, he served two tours of service to the Philippines, in 1905 and 1916.

Dugan was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the National Army on August 5, 1917, and between December 1917 and May 1918, he managed a brigade and field officers' school. During World War I, he served in Europe from July 1918 to July 1919, and he commanded brigades in the 86th, 85th, 53rd, and 5th infantry divisions. Dugan commanded the 35th Infantry Division from November 25 to December 1918, and again from December 27, 1918, to the division's deactivation in April 1919. Dugan participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, and he received the Distinguished Service Medal for his role in the offensive. He retired on July 27, 1922, at the rank of colonel.

Congress restored Dugan's brigadier general rank on February 28, 1927. He died on April 27, 1940, in Washington, D.C.