A Marine stabbed while collecting Toys for Tots said he thought of all the people inside Best Buy on crowded Black Friday when he tried to intercept a fleeing shoplifter.
"After we got him to the ground, and we got the knife away from him, I felt a pinch on my back," said Cpl. Phillip Duggan.
Only then did Duggan, a 2004 graduate of Cross Creek High School, realize he'd suffered a knife wound. His reaction?
"I can't believe he messed up my uniform," Duggan said.
The Marine reservist, who is currently on active duty, has been presented a new dress blouse by the North Augusta Marine Corps League so he can continue his assignment, which is serving at Marine Corps funerals.
A former teacher wasn't surprised to hear that Duggan stepped in to help.
Duggan was the kind of student who would stay late to build scenery for a high school drama production, said Leah Soderberg, his former drama coach at Cross Creek.
He was a fine actor, dancer and acrobat who played the lead in The Diviners and has returned since graduation to mentor kids, she said.
"He's got a good sense of humor and a very good code of ethics," Soderberg said.
Duggan acknowledged Monday that Marines are a "band of brothers" and that he wasn't acting alone when he, Cpl. William Washington, Sgt. Joshua Aurelio and Gunnery Sgt. Robert Ritchie took down a Waynesboro, Ga., man who'd just escaped from Best Buy security -- and had a knife.
Tracey Attaway, the alleged shoplifter, remained in the Richmond County jail Monday on armed robbery and aggravated assault charges.
The Marines don't expect trouble when they collect for Toys for Tots, but as Marines they always are prepared, said Washington, who helped hold the struggling Attaway down until police arrived.
"We don't go looking for the axis of evil; it just sometimes pulls out in front of us," said Chief Warrant Officer Gregory Smith, who commands the unit that has led the Toys for Tots drive in Augusta for 21 years.
The toy drive will continue, and the same Marines will be collecting toys around the area Wednesday through Saturday, the local Toys for Tots coordinator, Gunnery Sgt. Sherry Barrera, said.
Working through the United Way's Christmas Clearinghouse, which verifies all applicants for toys, Marines expect to provide toys to 8,000 children this year, Barrera said.
RAINIER EHRHARDT/STAFF
Cpl. Phillip Duggan, a Marine reservist who is currently on active duty, was stabbed in the back while trying to help subdue a fleeing shoplifter at Best Buy on Black Friday. Duggan was there collecting Christmas toys for needy children.
Gemma May, 10, of Thomson, donates toys as Cpl. Gilbert Yates assists her at Walmart in Thomson. Collections around the area will continue during the holiday season. \nCpl. Phillip Duggan speaks to the media at the U.S. Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center, Monday, Nov. 29, 2010, in Augusta, Ga. Duggan was stabbed by a fleeing shoplifter at Best Buy on Black Friday.
Above,
This boy should get a Purple Heart. What an awesome guy. That is what real soldiers do. :)
Bravo, Cpl. Duggan! Semper Fi, and Merry Christmas!
Correction, Farmboy...and I'm sure it was an honest mistake, but Marines and soldiers are two different 'species'.
Maybe best buy will do something nice for this guy. Give him a gift card or good discount on some stuff. After all, he risked his life saving your property.
Hero's are rare these days. God bless this marine.
Doesn't negate the fact that he performed a courageous act that protected the property of best buy, the customers of best buy, and saved the day because best buy was too cheap to keep off-duty deputies at the black friday event from beginning to end.
RAWR, I can read just fine. RAWR, don't ever question me again!
Semper Fi! OOOORAHH Marine! In the Army we have a medal called "The Soldiers Medal" given for civic heroism that is not related to combat. I am not sure if the Marines have a medal like that, but it seems this man deserves a "slap on the back" instead of a knife in it.
I will be home for Christmas and I intend on dropping by and shaking this Marine's hand as I give him our family's donation.
Yeah. "We have some ARVN laptops for trade. Never been fired and only dropped once."
Justus has a point. Maybe this Marine can throw out the first pitch at the new stadium...
Farmboy, I agree with you. What this gentleman did was above and beyond his call of duty. It would be nice to see more people stepping up to the plate as Cpl. Phillip Duggan did. Great job Cpl. Duggan. I salute you.
Hang a new sign in the window:
SHOPLIFTERS WILL BE CLOTHES-LINED!
Best line "We don't go looking for the axis of evil; it just sometimes pulls out in front of us,"
Interesting spotlight of his artistic prowess before becoming an American hero. Glee Clubbers have a new idol!
Where will the Marines be collecting over the next few days? I would love to put a toy or two in the box in honor of Cpl. Duggan.
Question for Justus4. What was your contribution to the United States Armed Forces?
Cpl. Duggan should receive some kind of award for a job well done. While we're at it, I'd like to nominate Mr. Attaway for a Darwin Award.
Seriously.. who tries to shoplift with a bunch of Marines standing in front of the store???
More chlorine for the gene pool please......
Thanks Gunny,
I love everyone trying to be a military expert on here. I know the Army regs but as you can see from my posting above, I don't know much about Marine awards, except you all don't give them out like candy. I do think this Marine deserves something for acting instead of watching in that situation.
OOORAHH,
Brad
God Bless you Cpl. Phillip Duggan, I agree, Cpl Duggan deserves the Purple Heart! Leave it to the Marines to always be prepared, nothing absoutly NOTHING can compare to USMC training~ God Bless the Corps~ Semper Fi!
Thank you Cpl. Duggan! I don't know you but I'm proud of you.
Oorah, Gunny, thank you for tightening-up jutus4 (by the time I created a new user account to do it myself, you were already on it). Anyway, while the Navy and Marine Corps Medal would absolutely be appropriate in this situation, this young devil dog will probably just get a NAM. Either way, he deserves to be recognized. Semper Fi, Cpl. Duggan, get some!
The Navy and Marine Corps Medal "Distinguishing oneself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. For acts of lifesaving, or attempted lifesaving, it is required that the action be performed at the risk of one's own life". Sounds like it fits the circumstance to me.
The streets of Augusta could almost be called a 'war zone'. I applaud his efforts. Plus, my daddy was a Marine. Semper Fi!
As the proud mother of a new United States Marine, PFC Cody Pierce, I first want to thank those that support and encourage our military members. To Gunny....Oooh Rah!! Your words were well spoken, direct, and to the point...THANK YOU! You saved me from having to act out of character and speak to Justus4 in a way not fitting of a lady!! I can't help but wonder if Justus, was at one point in his life, overlooked for an award and still looking for his big boy panties over it....or is simply a coward and could never fathom what it must be like to be a devil dog?!
I not only think that Cpl. Phillip Duggan should receive recognition, but the team of brothers that was with him by his side! They are Marines...and what a statement their support made to those who witnessed this act, and to those who will read about it!
..."he thought of all the people inside Best Buy". Putting others before himself, acting in an unselfish manner, just as his USMC training helped to teach him. Asking for nothing in return, and thinking only of his damaged uniform :0), this young man made a difference that day by sacraficing his own well being!! I am blessed, to be a part of this new "family" known as the United States Marine Corps and am as proud of this young man as I would be my own son. Semper Fi Cpl Duggan!!
Agreed 03 Bullet Stopper, he probably will recieve a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal but his actions written in this outstanding article befit that of the "Heroe's Medal" The Navy and Marine Corps Medal. It was just unfortunate that someone had to get on here and start making up stuff to start an argument and detach from the point of this article that is praising this fine Marine.
Happy Holidays to all of you and yours; Semper Fidelis.
Thank you Gunny!!!! Your previous post said it all for me:-). Cpl. Duggan, Thank you so much for your service. Semper Fidelis Marine!
Justus, this Marine was in a civilian setting where civilian police are called on to handle such situations, he was NOT under any obligation to do what he did. The fact that he did step up was above and beyond what was expected of him is praiseworthy. Kudos to you Cpl. Phillip Duggan!
BTW, great 12:27 post Gunny.
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