Thomas Franklin Vaughns
- Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen (2006)
- National Defense Service Medal (2019)
Sergeant First Class Thomas Franklin Vaughns (born July 7, 1920) is an American veteran who was a member of the famed group of World War II-era African-Americans known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He is a recipient of the National Defense Service Medal in 2019, for his service in the Korean War.[1][2] He is also a member of the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame.[3]
Military service
World War II
Vaughns was drafted his senior year of high school. In 1942 reported for duty at Camp Robinson. He was sent to basic training in Bakersfield, California. Vaughns was trained to be a mechanic for B-25 bombers. He was then transferred to Tuskegee along with 18 others.[5]
Korean War
Vaughns signed up for the Army Reserves and when the Korean War began he was sent to Fort Hood where he served as a mechanic. In 1952 he was discharged as a Sergeant First Class.[5]
Early life
Vaughns family owned a 50-acre farm in Felton, in rural Lee County, Arkansas. He attended Marianna High School in Arkansas.[5] On July 12, 2020, on Vaughn's 100th birthday a drive-by parade honoring him took place. The parade was organized by the church he attends: Barraque Street Missionary Baptist Church[6]
Awards
- Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006[7]
- World War II Victory Medal[2]
- American Campaign Medal[2]
- National Defense Service Medal (2019)[2]
- Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame (2020)[3]
Education
- Marianna High School[5]
- Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College[5]
- University of Arkansas[1]
Personal life
After WWII Vaughns returned home to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. There he worked in education. He also worked monitoring 4-H Club members.[2] After WWII, he attended college and He married Luvada. He signed up for the Army Reserves and when the Korean War began he was sent to Fort Hood.[5] In the 1950s he set up a program for farmer to sell their produce in Crittenden County, Arkansas and later in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. His programs provided employment for 1400 people.[3] He spent the rest of his career occupied with agricultural teaching farming techniques.[5]
See also
- Executive Order 9981
- Military history of African Americans
- The Tuskegee Airmen (movie)
Further reading
- The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939–1949[8]
References
- ^ a b Ellis, Dale (August 22, 2019). "Arkansas veteran, 99, given new medal, praise for life lived". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Adams, Char (August 27, 2019). "'Hero' 99-Year-Old Tuskegee Airman Honored With Medals and His Own Day in Special Ceremony". Meredith Corporation. People Magazine. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c Steed, Stephan (March 6, 2020). "Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame to welcome 6 new members". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
- ^ a b c d e f g Boozman, Senator John (September 23, 2019). "Boozman Recognizes Service of Tuskegee Airman". Boozman Senate. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ "Thomas Vaughns to observe 100th birthday with drive-by parade". Gannett Co., Inc. Times Record. July 10, 202. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ Rangel, Charles B. (April 11, 2006). "Tuskegee Airmen Gold Medal Signed Into Law". Press Release. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
- ^ Caver, Joseph; Ennels, Jerome A.; Haulman, Daniel Lee (2011). The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939–1949. Montgomery: New South Books. p. 394. ISBN 978-1588382443. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
Notes
External links
- Tuskegee Airmen at Tuskegee University
- Tuskegee Airmen Archives at the University of California, Riverside Libraries.
- Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)
- Tuskegee Airmen National Museum
- Fly (2009 play about the 332d Fighter Group)
- Thomas Vaughns
- v
- t
- e
- 99th Fighter Squadron
- 100th Fighter Squadron
- 301st Fighter Squadron
- 302nd Fighter Squadron
- 332d Fighter Group
- 477th Bomber Group
and crew
- Paul Adams
- Rutherford H. Adkins
- Halbert Alexander
- William N. Alsbrooka
- William Armstrong
- Lee Archer
- Robert Ashby
- Willie Ashley
- Charles P. Bailey
- William Bartley
- Howard Baugh
- Henry Cabot Lodge Bohler
- George R. Bolling
- Herbert V. Clark
- Granville C. Coggs
- Woodrow Crockett
- Harold Brown
- George L. Brown
- Roscoe Brown
- William A. Campbell
- Herbert Carter
- Eugene Calvin Cheatham Jr.
- Milton Crenchaw
- Lemuel R. Custis
- Clarence Dart
- Alfonza W. Davis
- Benjamin O. Davis Jr. (C/O)
- Charles DeBow
- Robert W. Deiz
- Gene Derricotte
- Lawrence Dickson
- Elwood T. Driver
- Charles W. Dryden
- Wilson V. Eagleson
- John Ellis Edwards
- Joseph Elsberry
- Raymond Cassagnol
- James Clayton Flowers
- Julius Freeman
- Robert Friend
- Willie H. Fuller
- Edward C. Gleed
- Joseph Gomer
- Alfred Gorham
- Oliver Goodall
- Charles B. Hall
- Vernon V. Haywood
- George Hardy
- Raymond V. Haysbert
- Percy Heath
- Mitchell Higginbotham
- Daniel "Chappie" James Jr.
- Clarence C. Jamison
- Alexander Jefferson
- Carl C. Johnson
- James H. Harvey
- William Lee Hill
- Lincoln Hudson
- William H. Holloman
- George J. Iles
- James Johnson Kelly
- James B. Knighten
- George L. Knox II
- Herman A. Lawson
- Walter I. Lawson
- Clarence D. Lester
- Wilmore B. Leonard
- John Lyle
- Hiram Mann
- Walter Manning
- Robert Martin
- Armour G. McDaniel
- Charles McGee
- Walter L. McCreary
- John Mosley
- Fitzroy Newsum
- James O. Plinton Jr.
- Wendell O. Pruitt
- Louis R. Purnell Sr.
- Price D. Rice
- Lawrence E. Roberts
- George S. Roberts
- Curtis C. Robinson
- Isaiah Edward Robinson Jr.
- John W. Rogers Sr.
- Mac Ross
- Robert Searcy
- David Showell
- Wilmeth Sidat-Singh
- Graham Smith (pilot)
- Eugene Smith
- Calvin J. Spann
- Vernon Sport
- Lowell Steward
- Harry Stewart, Jr.
- Charles "Chuck" Stone Jr.
- Percy Sutton
- Alva Temple
- Roger Terry
- Lucius Theus
- Edward L. Toppins
- Robert B. Tresville
- Andrew D. Turner
- James A. Walker
- Spann Watson
- Luke J. Weathers
- Sherman W. White
- James T. Wiley
- Malvin "Mal" Whitfield
- Oscar Lawton Wilkerson
- Yancey Williams
- Romeo M. Williams
- Henry Wise Jr.
- Coleman Young
Fictional films |
|
---|---|
Documentaries |
|
Other |
|
- Leslie Edwards Jr.
- Wilfred DeFour
- Maycie Herrington
- Buford A. Johnson
- Thomas Ellis
- Theodore Johnson
- Noel F. Parrish
- Wallace P. Reed
- Willie Rogers
- Thomas Franklin Vaughns
- African American military history
- Buffalo Soldier
- Golden Thirteen
- 366th Infantry Regiment
- U.S. Army Black Panthers
- United States Colored Troops
- Category
- aviation portal