Lawrence William Duggan

Colonel Lawrence Duggan, born in 1937 in Portland, Oregon, passed away on March 15, 2023 at the age of 85. He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Maile (Mahikoa) Duggan. He is survived by his children: Michelle Watkins (Mark), Dallyn Duggan (Gary), Leanne Kidd (Dorian), and Larry Duggan (Wendy); his three grandchildren: Kristen Watkins (Brian), Erik Watkins (fiancé Sarah), and Malia Washington; and his great granddaughter, The Mighty Nora. Larry was raised by his grandparents in Oregon, graduating high school and achieving the Beaver/Duck combo by attending both Oregon State University and the University of Oregon, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He wore many hats in his youth, from paperboy to forest firefighter to casino blackjack dealer, but his participation in the ROTC program guided him towards a military career and he was commissioned as second lieutenant in the US Army in 1960. Larry’s first duty station was Fort Ord, California where a sufficient amount of woo was pitched towards a young coed attending the University of Redlands that she accepted his proposal of marriage. He credited the engagement to him being lucky, his bride credited it to him being persistent, and the truth is somewhere in between as Maile and Lawrence were married in 1961 and would go on to spend almost six decades together, raising four children and living all over the world as duty called. Colonel Duggan’s military career spanned 30 years in a wide variety of assignments. He could talk about the nuances of commanding a M-60 main battle tank, point out his Kenyan Parachutist Badge, show off a picture of him suited up in the back of an F-4 Phantom, or reflect on the times he spent in the desert with King Hussein of Jordan coordinating joint military exercises. He took great pride in having earned his green beret, serving with distinction in US Special Forces everywhere from the jungles of Vietnam in 1963 to commanding officer of the 5th Special Forces Group in 1985 in Fort Bragg, NC. During one of his tours of Vietnam he was gravely wounded in combat, earning his Purple Heart and reducing his rib count by one. He also served in many other capacities including Special Forces detachment commander in Okinawa Japan, tank commander for the 3rd Armored Division in Germany, staff positions in Thailand and The Pentagon in Washington DC, and culminating his career as commander of Special Operations Command Central in Tampa, FL, where he retired in 1990. His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and Special Forces Tab. A graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and the United States Army War College, he also held a master’s degree in management from Central Michigan University. After his military career he began a civilian career with RDR, leveraging his extensive knowledge of special operations planning into a 22 year stint as an executive with the company before finally giving in to his wife and retiring for good in 2012. Larry was a gentleman who carried a sharp, dry sense of humor. He liked to spend his time off with family where he developed his side-gig as family chef, and his children still try to duplicate the dishes he spun up in the kitchen over the years. He utilized the carpentry skills his grandfather taught him to not only work on house repairs and projects, but also familiarize himself with the local emergency room. He was also an avid runner and played golf, handball, baseball, and basketball. The teams he followed via recliner chair and in person were the Washington Redskins, Washington Nationals, and Boston Celtics. He and Maile traveled extensively around the world including trips to Mount Rushmore, Russia, France, China, Japan, and the Baltics. A graveside service with full military honors will be rendered at Arlington National Cemetery, with specifics to be announced at a later date. In remembrance of Colonel Duggan’s life, the family requests that in lieu of flowers any charitable donations be made in his name to Special Forces Charitable Trust. Expressions of sympathy may be offered at jeffersonfuneralchapel.com.

Tributes

Lawrence William Duggan

September 4, 1937 - March 15, 2023