VAUGHN, GENE

PURPLE HEART, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL

Gene was born in Big Spring, the son of Margaret Camps and Claude C. Vaughn, Jr. He attended Big Spring schools. He was raised by his mother and worked after school at the Ritz Theatre in Big Spring. He was a 1964 graduate of Big Spring High School. After high school he attended classes at Howard College and worked for Cable Vision of Big Spring. He concentrated on working and therefore became eligible for the draft. He was drafted into the United States Marine Corp in the summer of 1966.
He completed boot camp at the Marine Corp Recruit Training Depot at San Diego, California. He completed his ITR at Camp Pendleton, California and received additional training as a field radio operator. Lance Corporal Vaughn was killed in a mortar attack in Quang Tin, South Vietnam, 10 miles south of the DMS while serving as a radio operator for Headquarters and Services Company, 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.
He was buried with full military honors in Trinity Memorial Cemetery in Big Spring, Texas. He was survived by his mother, Peggy Vaughn of Big Spring and his father Claude also of Big Spring. Both parents are now deceased and buried in the same plot at Trinity Memorial Park.