LI family mourns former Duke lacrosse player killed in Iraq

Newsday 2/12/07

MANHASSET, N.Y. -- Jimmy Regan followed a calling to the military, becoming a U.S. Army Ranger and serving double tours of duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq, earning a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and several other medals. Mourners gathered at the Regan home in Manhasset on Sunday to remember the 26-year-old, former member of the Duke lacrosse team, who was killed in combat last week in Iraq. Regan's fiancee, Mary McHugh, told Newsday that the couple planned to marry in 2008, after Regan's stint with the army ended. They hoped to move to the Chicago area, closer to her family. She said Regan hoped to become a social studies teacher and coach lacrosse. Regan was the second former Duke athlete to die in combat. Former swimmer and baseball player Marine Lt. Matthew Lynch died in 2004 in Iraq. Regan played lacrosse from 1999 to 2002 and ended his career with 22 goals and four assists. He played on two Atlantic Coast Conference championship teams and in four NCAA tournaments. Cpl. Thomas Saba, 30, a marine born and raised on Staten Island, also was killed in Iraq last week when his CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter went down