NEW JERSEY — The first U.S. service member has died of COVID-19, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday.

Captain Douglas Linn Hickok died on Saturday at the age of 57, according to the U.S. Dept. of Defense. He had been hospitalized since March 21.

Hickok was a captain in the National Guard Medical Unit based out of Seagirt, New Jersey, his daughter, Shandrea Hickok said. He who moved to the state in 1997 where two of his children were raised.

He then moved to Maryland to work as a civilian physician assistant at Andrew’s Air force Base, his daughter said.

Hickok resided in Bangor, Pennsylvania for about three years before his death.

Shandrea Hickok described her father to be "loyal to his God, faith and country."

Hickok's wife made it a point to ask Murphy to reiterate the fact that everyone should stay home to help flatten the curve.

Though he is not counted in New Jersey’s death toll, "this hurts no less,” Murphy said.

“Our thoughts are with his wife, children and their family.”

There are over 16,600 positive cases of COVID-19 in the state of New Jersey, with the total of deaths reaching 198 as of Monday afternoon, according to Murphy.