Dum-Dum Dugan, as he is known, was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army 69th Infantry Regiment during World War II. He later joined Steve Rogers as part of the elite combat unit known as the Howling Commandos. After Steve Rogers went missing in action and World War II ended, Dugan joined Howard Stark and Peggy Carter in the newly formed organization, S.H.I.E.L.D. Dugan and former Howling Commando Jim Morita were part of the team led by Carter that obtained the original 0-8-4 item, known as the Obelisk, from HYDRA agent Dr. Daniel Whitehall.