Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Franklin Vaughns is a Tuskegee Airman and a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
Decades after those conflicts, the 99-year-old vet was honored for his service in a ceremony at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. https://t.co/mwjHzQCxjZ
— CNN (@CNN) August 24, 2019
As per North West Arkansas, four of the medals Vaughns received were replacements for those he had been given before but had mislaid.
The National Defence Service Medal (for his service during the Korean War) became the latest addition in his list of honors.
Thomas Franklin Vaughns, 99, served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946 as a mechanic for the Tuskegee Airman. He received FIVE overdue WWII medals today. Thank you for your service! 🇺🇸 https://t.co/NUiJyg7Lh0
— KENS 5 (@KENS5) August 22, 2019
Vaughn said he never received the award because he was simply happy to have left the war and returned home. When he did so, he undertook a career in education, helping to shape the lives of the next generation of Americans.
Senator John Boozman, who gave Vaughns his medals, said: “We all know about his great career in the military, going off at a young age to serve his country, willing to do whatever he was asked to do. Then he came home and, like the greatest generation, rebuilt the country.”
Senator Boozman also commended Vaughns’ as being a hero in every sense of the word.
A huge congratulations to Thomas Franklin Vaughns, and thank you for serving the nation with distinction!
If you want to pay tribute to all our great veterans, share this article on Facebook!