Thomas Franklin Vaughns

Sergeant first class

Thomas Franklin Vaughns
Sergeant first class; Thomas Franklin Vaughns
Born	July 7, 1920 (age 104); Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Army Air Force
Years of service	1942–1952
Rank	Sergeant first class
Awards	Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen (2006); National Defense Service Medal (2019);
Relations	Luvada

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, for Vaughn's 100th birthday 5 days earlier, 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]

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

^ The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of P-51s as well as a red rudder; their P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands and all-red tail surfaces.^[4]

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

[Gazette-1] Ellis, Dale (August 22, 2019). "Arkansas veteran, 99, given new medal, praise for life lived". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Retrieved August 8, 2020.

[People-2] 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.

[Halloffame-3] Steed, Stephan (March 6, 2020). "Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame to welcome 6 new members". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Retrieved August 8, 2020.

[Rice-4] Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.

[boozman-6] ^ ^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.

[Times_rec-7] "Thomas Vaughns to observe 100th birthday with drive-by parade". Gannett Co., Inc. Times Record. July 10, 202. Retrieved August 8, 2020.

[Gold-8] Rangel, Charles B. (April 11, 2006). "Tuskegee Airmen Gold Medal Signed Into Law". Press Release. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved November 26, 2008.

[NSB-9] 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.

[5] The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of P-51s as well as a red rudder; their P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands and all-red tail surfaces.^[4]

[1]