Corporal Timothy Aloysius Cadwallader "Dum Dum" Dugan was a United States Army non-commissioned officer during World War II and a member of the Howling Commandos. Having been rescued from a HYDRA prison camp with other soldiers, he was recruited into the newly formed Howling Commandos and had fought alongside Captain America and Bucky Barnes. During their missions, Dugan and the Commandos became key in ending the war, helping to defeat Red Skull as well as Werner Reinhardt and allowing the Allied forces to finally claim their final victory.
As Rogers was seemingly killed during a mission during World War II, Dugan took command of the Howling Commandos, leading them into many new covert missions to keep the world at peace in the wake of the war while recruiting new members such as Junior Juniper and Happy Sam Sawyer. He remained close to many of his fellow soldiers who he had fought with during the war, including Howard Stark and Peggy Carter, who had since formed S.H.I.E.L.D., and was willing to work with them on whatever mission they needed him for in order to keep the entire world safe.
During a battle against Wehrmacht soldiers, Dugan and his unit became pinned down and took cover in a crater, with no way to communicate with reinforcements. Together along with Barnes and Gabe Jones, they fired upon the hostiles until the HYDRA Tank fired on the Wehrmacht soldiers. As they retreated, Dugan and the surviving members of the 107th were captured by HYDRA.[4]
Dugan was locked away with the surviving members of the 107th Infantry Regiment and forced into hard labor, building weapons from the Tesseract's power. He was often tormented by the HYDRA soldiers who would knock his beloved hat off his head; Dugan remained unfazed, telling the guard that one day he would have a stick of his own, hinting that he planned on one day killing the guard.[1]
When Captain America single-handedly attackedHYDRA Base Camp C3 in which he was prisoner, Dugan and his companions were freed. Dugan and some of the other prisoners questioned if Captain America knew what he was doing, to which he claimed he had knocked out Adolf Hitler over 200 times, much to Dugan's confusion.
Dugan and the other prisoners began to fight and were able to overcome the HYDRA soldiers. When they broke free, Dugan, Gabe Jones and James Montgomery Falsworth took over a HYDRA tank and wreaked havoc on the HYDRA agents. After the successful battle Captain America escorted Dugan and the rest of the POWs to the US military base, where they all cheered for the victory.[1]
Shortly after their break-out, Dugan and his comrades were invited to join a special elite commando unit led by Rogers himself. When asked while drinking with some other POWs, Dugan happily joined, saying he was always ready for battle, as long as someone else paid for his drinks. Later the group sang songs together until they spotted Peggy Carter arriving at the pub; her beauty caused them to stop singing and stare at her.
Along with the other Howling Commandos, Dugan took part in every assault against HYDRA, taking out massive bases and tanks and crippling HYDRA's strength. Dugan's exploits made him one of the most famous of the Howling Commandos and he was remembered for years afterwards because of his bravery. During one mission Dugan oversaw Rogers, Bucky Barnes, and Gabe Jones assault a train to capture Arnim Zola. Although Zola was successfully captured and handed over to the Allies, only Rogers and Jones returned as Barnes was seemingly killed during the mission.[1]
Dugan was present in London after Chester Phillips had successfully interrogated Zola, learning of Red Skull's plan to attack the United States. Although Dugan remained silent, he listened closely as Rogers devised a plan to attack the HYDRA Headquarters single-handedly, allowing Dugan's Howling Commandos and Chester Phillips to attack the base later when HYDRA was distracted, hopefully killing Schmidt and ending the war.
The plan was enacted and Captain America was captured while storming Schmidt's fortress. The diversion worked and Dugan and the rest of the Howling Commandos snuck up and attacked the base, using Zip-Line Guns to smash through the window to shoot at Schmidt and his soldiers. Once inside, they signaled Phillips and a unit lead by Carter and Phillips attacked the base. Dugan and the Howling Commandos took over the base with Dugan using a stolen HYDRA gun to shoot at his enemies. The mission was a success; Schmidt's plan was stopped and Schmidt was seemingly killed, but Rogers went missing in action. Dugan never saw him again.[1]
"Guten tag[5], boys. All right, nice and calm. No sudden moves, or we'll tie a blasting cap to your... Hey, Dugan, what's the German word for nuts?" "I don't know, Jim. But tie a blasting cap to them and I'll bet we'll hear it."
Dugan, along with Peggy Carter and Jim Morita, captured the last known HYDRAbase in Austria. Morita mocked and threatened the HYDRA soldiers, while Werner Reinhardt was found carrying a strange Obelisk and Carter ordered him to drop it. They arrested the soldiers, along with Reinhardt, ending their war against HYDRA, although Reinhardt still said the HYDRA motto, "Cut off one head, two more shall take its place" while Dugan handcuffed him.
Dugan, Morita and Carter found and locked away all the artifacts that Reinhardt and his scientists were experimenting with, cataloging each item. Morita moved the Obelisk with great care not to touch it, as touching the item caused immediate death, it was codenamed an 0-8-4. While Dugan was looking through the artifacts, he opened one box containing some kind of blue creature. Dugan asked Carter what the items were; she simply replied that they were dangerous and they must dedicate themselves to ensuring that the items never see the light of day again. They also discussed how this base was the final known of HYDRA base, indicating that HYDRA was finally defeated.[6]
Dugan met Carter and Jack Thompson once they landed in Russia and they took stolen trucks to the location. Along the way, Dugan and Carter sat in the back of the truck and Carter gave Dugan a bottle of bourbon as payment for his assistance. Dugan tried to have a drink but Carter would not let him, claiming he smelled bad enough already. As they talked about how their lives had changed since World War II, seeing Carter's reaction, Dugan expressed his own sadness at the loss of Steve Rogers. They stopped overnight to eat and rest. As they sat around the fire, they each told war stories, teasing Junior Juniper for his stories; they listened to Thompson tell the story of how he won a medal by killing a unit of Japanese soldiers who were seemingly attempting to assassinate his team.[7]
Together they infiltrated the Red Room Academy only to discover children's classrooms, strange videos of American television programs and a series of beds with handcuffs attached. Dugan also came across Eva who at first appeared to be frightened of the soldiers so Dugan spoke to her very calmly. When she showed interest in his hat he entertained her. As he tried to comfort the girl and bring her to safety, she revealed herself to be a trained assassin as she stabbed him in the chest before she shot and killed Junior Juniper and escaped. Dugan was clearly devastated to have lost his friend and fellow soldier and attempted to kill the girl by throwing a grenade at her, but Peggy Carter convinced him to continue with the mission.
Dugan and the Commandos escape
Dugan and his Howling Commandos team were tasked with finding an escape route from the base for Carter and her team once the mission was completed. When Carter became involved in a firefight with the Russian guards, she called Dugan for assistance. When he took a while to arrive, Carter berated him. Dugan eventually came to her aid, blowing up part of a wall and charging out, shooting his shotgun at the Russian soldiers. Carter told him to stop Wahooing and help them escape. Together they got to their truck and escaped the base, fighting the soldiers back and taking Viktor Ivchenko, whom Carter and her team had saved from imprisonment, with them.[7]
"Commandos could always use another good fighter. We just need to come up with a nickname for you." "Tempting, but I think it's time I put my days on the front lines behind me."
With their mission complete, Peggy Carter and her team prepared to leave Russia to return towards the United States of America to continue their mission back home and expose all of Leviathan's true intentions. Having said goodbye to Jack Thompson with his firm handshake, Dugan wished him good luck with his ongoing mission while Pinky Pinkerton also said his goodbyes to all their newest allies as they left.
As they said their goodbyes, Dugan then asked Carter if she had ever considered becoming a member of the Howling Commandos and even suggested she take on the nickname "Miss Union Jack" if she had become a member, which Happy Sam Sawyer rolled his eyes to. Despite all of Dugan's enthusiasm over the idea, Carter still refused, claiming that she needed to focus her efforts on the SSR and their continued mission to clear Howard Stark's name. While Dugan had still insisted that "Miss Union Jack" would be a good name for her, Carter jokingly stated that he should never speak again.
Dugan prepares to return to his other mission
Dugan offered Viktor Ivchenko a ride home, but when he noted that he did not have a home anymore, Carter invited him into the SSR to testify against Leviathan which he accepted. Dugan then offered Ivachenko a drink of his own whiskey, only for Ivchenko to then ask to keep the entire bottle, much to Dugan's disappointment, although Dugan still relented and handed over the bottle. Having said all their goodbyes, Dugan still stayed behind in Russia while he watched Carter, Thompson, Rick Ramirez and Ivchenko headed back into New York City, with Dugan remaining with his team of Commandos.[7]
Dugan went on holiday with Howard Stark and sat by a swimming pool with him, while Stark contacted the Strategic Scientific Reserve, informing John Flynn that Peggy Carter will lead the S.H.I.E.L.D. with him. Dugan then became transfixed by the beautiful women standing by the pool wearing bikinis; Dugan asked Stark if he invented them and he said no, it was the French.[8]
Legacy[]
"These are awesome. Dum Dum Dugan would be proud."
Dum Dum Dugan was a belligerent but witty person, a gentle giant who hates injustice and was extremely loyal to his comrades. As a member of the Howling Commandos, he was recognized as one of the most skilled soldiers in United States Army. Dugan was highly trained, and he possessed a great amount of strength.
Abilities[]
Expert Marksman: When going into battle, Dugan often brought and efficiently used a revolver and shotgun, but also used other firearms with relative ease. Gaining multiple kills against HYDRA and Leviathan soldiers, he proved himself to be an expert marksman before and after World War II. He routinely helped Captain America by shooting the enemies with his shotgun.
Tactician: Dugan assumed leadership of the Howling Commandos following Captain America's supposed death, through missions in Russia. As their leader, he strategized their next moves and even had a plan to help Peggy Carter and Jack Thompson, before collaborating to make a better one.
Mk 2 Grenade: Dugan usually carried a couple of hand grenades, and was about to use one inside the Red Room Academy, when Eva tricked him and killed one of Dugan's teammates. However, Peggy Carter stopped him, believing Eva was just a girl.
Stark Mansion: On a holiday, Dugan visited Howard Stark's mansion and sat by him while looking at a woman in a bikini that he felt aroused upon.
Prisons[]
HYDRA Base Camp C3: Dugan was held prisoner in a HYDRA weapons facility and forced to do labor and was tormented by the guards. Dugan was later freed by Steve Rogers, and helped Rogers continue attacking the facility as he and the rest of the 107th Infantry Regiment escaped together.
In the comics, Dum Dum Dugan goes on to be a top tier S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and the right-hand man of Nick Fury. After his death, Dugan was brought back by Fury as a Life-Model Decoy which Dugan was unaware of.
Behind the Scenes[]
Dum Dum Dugan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the second live-action incarnation of the character, following an incarnation portrayed by Garry Chalk.
