Glasgow veteran receives French honor

By GINA KINSLOW
Glasgow Daily Times

GLASGOW October 11, 2008 01:30 pm

— John Vaughn recently joined several other American veterans in receiving the Knight of the Legion of Honor medal — more than 60 years after he fought in France during World War II.
The medal is given by the French government to soldiers who assisted France and western Europe during the war.
“I put in for it through the DAV (Disabled American Veterans),” he said of the award.
“He still wasn’t sure if he would get it,” said his wife, Eugenia.
Vaughn received a letter early in June notifying him was eligible for the honor.
“Then I got another letter in July that I could have the counsel general give me this medal or I could have a veterans’ unit like the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) or the DAV give it to me or I could have it mailed,” he said.
Vaughn decided to have his medal mailed to him.
“I didn’t get the medal until about two or three weeks ago,” he said. “But I finally got it after 60-some years.”
“It’s something he’s very proud of,” his wife said.
In a letter that came with the medal, Jean-Baptiste Main de Boissiere, a French Consul General, said, “Through this award, the French government pays tribute to the soldiers who did so much for France and Western Europe. More than 60 years ago, you gave your youth to France and the French people. Many of your fellow soldiers did not return, but they remain in our hearts.
“Thanks to the courage of these soldiers, to our American friends and allies, France has been living in peace for the past six decades. They saved us and we will never forget. I want you to know that for us, the French people, they are heroes. Gratitude and remembrance are forever in our souls.”
Vaughn adds the Knight of Legion of Honor medal to a collection of others he received from the American government for his military service. They are: Good Conduct Ribbon, American Defense Service Medal and the European, African, Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with eight Bronze Stars and a Bronze Arrowhead.
Vaughn, of Glasgow, was drafted into the Army in October 1939, and began his active tour of duty in November 1940 in the 45th Division of the 7th Army. He took his basic training at Camp Hulen, Texas, and from there, at the age of 20, was shipped to Ireland in April 1942.
“We trained in Ireland under the British army and then we were sent to England where we loaded on a ship at Liverpool, England, and went to North Africa,” he said.
Vaughn and his fellow soldiers landed in Algeria and then moved on to Tunisia where they fought the Germans.
“After the Tunisia campaign was over with, we transferred to the 7th Army and went to Sicily,” he said.
He was then transferred to the 5th Army and was part of the invasion of Italy.
“In January, we pulled back to Naples and loaded on a ship and invaded Angio, Italy. We were surrounded there until the 30th of May,” he said. “We went north to Rome ... and we were transferred to the 7th Army. We went back to Naples and loaded on a ship and went to southern France.”
He was in France for the winter. In the spring, he and his fellow soldiers made the journey to Germany, where was attached to the 45th Infantry Division.
“We were in Munich, Germany, when the war ended,” he said.
The Knight of Legion of Honor medal was created by Napoleon and is the highest honor France bestows upon those who fought for the country, the letter states.
In addition to the medal, Vaughn also received a certificate.

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