February 14, 2007, - 10:55 am

Sgt. James John Regan: The Duke Lacrosse Player You Didn’t Hear About

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With all of the unfair, negative attention brought on three Duke Lacrosse players falsely accused of rape, another Duke Lacrosse player–Sgt. James John Regan–and his story got lost.
Regan was a star on the Duke Lacrosse Team and had a scholarship to go to law school and an offer to work at a financial company. But he felt he had a higher calling. He joined the Army Rangers. He served double tours of duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq, earning a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and several other medals.
He was killed in action in Iraq, last week. He was 26 and engaged to be married. His fiancee, Mary McHugh told Newsday why he felt it was imperative to join the Army and serve rather than taking one of the other safer, more lucrative offers:


Sgt. James John Regan, RIP

He said, ‘If I don’t do it, then who will do it?’ He recognized it as an option and he couldn’t not do it.”

Kudos to Newsday and USA Today sports columnist Mike Lopresti for telling his story. Here’s an excerpt from Lopresti’s column, “Here’s a Duke Lacrosse Player You Need to Know“:

Jimmy went from his Long Island roots to Duke as a determined athlete and student.
“Just a terrific personality. Always a smile on his face. His teammates just loved to be around him,” his coach, Mike Pressler, said over the phone Monday. “He was the kind of kid that every coach in America would be proud to call his own. I can’t imagine a better teammate or a better friend.”
By the spring of 2002, Jimmy was a senior and close to graduating with a degree in economics. He was on the all-ACC Academic team as a midfielder. In the conference championship game, against No. 1 Virginia, he scored four goals and the Blue Devils won 14-13. Pressler still remembers how the press flocked around him afterward. How happy Jimmy was. The star of the game. The hero.
“It was just his day in the sun,” Pressler said. “I’m sure it was something he never forgot.”
Jimmy had a scholarship to go to law school after Duke. Also an offer to work at a financial company. “But he felt like he had a higher calling,” Pressler said.
Jimmy joined the Army Rangers. Later, he figured, he’d come back to his life. One day, he would coach a lacrosse team, and help kids find the happiness he had that spring day against Virginia. So he left Duke behind, just as the class of 2006 – when the world caved in the Blue Devil lacrosse team – was entering.

Sgt. James John Regan, Rest In Peace.




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9 Responses

Like Pat Tillman, it’s great to see a MAN who ain’t a dittoheaded chickenhawk!!!
Now let’s cut the crap and get a draft going and DO THE RIGHT THING in IRAN— http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Dresden_in_World_War_II
Now THAT is a good Valentine’s Day gift.

EminemsRevenge on February 14, 2007 at 12:06 pm

Here is a story about a true American hero that probably won’t be covered by the lowest order in the media.Instead, they would rather give coverage on some junkie slut and hold her up for a role model. I was moved upon reading about Sgt. Reagan and the sacrifices he made for America. Now thats true patriotism, a story that deserves the media coverage that it won’t get.

Jew Chick on February 14, 2007 at 12:48 pm

This is the same hero who John Kerry (who shot a grain of rice in his ass in order to get out of Nam early) labeled a moron because he didn’t study hard enough and was “stuck in Iraq”.
The savages who murdered Sgt. James John Regan should burn in Hell for eternity along with their false profit muhammad (yes, I intentionally spelled “profit” that way).
RIP, Sgt. James John Regan. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

Thee_Bruno on February 14, 2007 at 1:13 pm

    John Regan is a great American. But so is John Kerry, who gave up a deferment to fight in Vietnam. I don’t what Ivy League school you attended, or who your daddy was. When the rounds start zipping by your HEAD, it’s all the same. It takes a little bullet the size of a pencil eraser to blow your blue-blood brains out. Kerry put his life on the line fighting in the Mekong Delta, just like Sgt. John Regan did in the middle east.
    As a Viet Nam era vet, I don’t believe for a minute that John Kerry belittled John Regan. Just more conservative, republican bulls*!t. Shame on you.
    Cheers, Robert.

    Robert on April 19, 2011 at 10:33 pm

Sgt. Regan is a true patriot. He sacrificed his life. We should bow our heads and say a prayer for him and his loved ones. And then in tribute to the thousands of dead, wounded and maimed Americans and the 150,000 troops in harms way, we should do what a brave nation does in war- kill the enemy with all its fire power until they surrender.

Happiness Pursuer on February 14, 2007 at 1:34 pm

Dear Debbie;
What a shame this is. My heart goes out to this brave young man’s family. This story should be on the front page of USA Today.
Sgt. James John Regan was twice the man John Kerry ever will be.
Rest in peace soldier.
And thank you for serving your country.

EJO on February 14, 2007 at 4:31 pm

Bad boy of the internet, who some have called the Dave Chappelle of blogging, EminemsRevenge tells it like it is!

Dan on February 14, 2007 at 11:34 pm

Thanks for acknowledging such a great man, Debbie. I’m so sick of hearing people on the radio and TV talking about our soldiers like they’re infants who need to be pitied. They should be honored both in life and in death for fighting for our country and defeating our enemies.

Dan on February 14, 2007 at 11:38 pm

I could see that Mary McHugh is faithful lady; I fell in love with her just from the picture; I wish I could have her in my life or at least a lady like her. I love you Mary McHugh.

himi on November 7, 2009 at 11:15 pm

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