Born in Campellsburg, Kentucky, J.W. Vaughan moved to Indianapolis, Indiana as a young boy. He graduated Arsenal Technical High School in 1928 where he was enrolled in ROTC. In 1936 he joined the Indianapolis Police Department and in 1940 was granted a leave of absence due to activation in the military. J.W. Vaughan was a Lieutenant with the 80th Armored Regiment stationed in New York. After American involvement in World War II, Vaughan was to make history becoming one of the original officers of the 101st Airborne Division in August 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was with the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In September of 1943 he with his division were stationed in England awaiting the invasion of Europe. On June 6, 1944, Major J.W. Vaughan lost his life in the early morning operations of D-Day. He was the highest ranking officer of the 502nd to die that day. He is survived by two children, Suzanne and Stephen. Major Vaughan is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in France.∼Patrolman J.W. Vaughan, 33, served with the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. He had been an officer of the 101st Airborne since its inception in August 1942.
Major Vaughan was among the many from his division who were dropped at the wrong location into the darkness of the Normandy terrain during the early morning operations of D-Day on June 6, 1944. He was eventually able to band together with others from his unit.
The objective of Major Vaughan's unit was to secure four roads leading to Utah Beach. Approximately one mile from Ste. Mere Eglise, they intercepted an enemy column transporting supplies via horse drawn wagons.
Major Vaughan, who was the S-4 officer, was commanded to secure the wagons. In the darkness, with his .45 drawn, Vaughan walked to the back of the train. A burst of fire erupted, and Vaughan was killed.
Major Vaughan was the highest-ranking officer of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment to lose his life during the invasion on June 6 and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France.
Vaughan was born in Campbellsburg, Kentucky on February 6, 1911, and was a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis.
He had been appointed to the Indianapolis Police Department on December 1, 1936. He was survived by his wife, Estella, and a five-year old daughter and an eighteen-month-old son.
Major Vaughan was among the many from his division who were dropped at the wrong location into the darkness of the Normandy terrain during the early morning operations of D-Day on June 6, 1944. He was eventually able to band together with others from his unit.
The objective of Major Vaughan's unit was to secure four roads leading to Utah Beach. Approximately one mile from Ste. Mere Eglise, they intercepted an enemy column transporting supplies via horse drawn wagons.
Major Vaughan, who was the S-4 officer, was commanded to secure the wagons. In the darkness, with his .45 drawn, Vaughan walked to the back of the train. A burst of fire erupted, and Vaughan was killed.
Major Vaughan was the highest-ranking officer of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment to lose his life during the invasion on June 6 and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France.
Vaughan was born in Campbellsburg, Kentucky on February 6, 1911, and was a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis.
He had been appointed to the Indianapolis Police Department on December 1, 1936. He was survived by his wife, Estella, and a five-year old daughter and an eighteen-month-old son.
Born in Campellsburg, Kentucky, J.W. Vaughan moved to Indianapolis, Indiana as a young boy. He graduated Arsenal Technical High School in 1928 where he was enrolled in ROTC. In 1936 he joined the Indianapolis Police Department and in 1940 was granted a leave of absence due to activation in the military. J.W. Vaughan was a Lieutenant with the 80th Armored Regiment stationed in New York. After American involvement in World War II, Vaughan was to make history becoming one of the original officers of the 101st Airborne Division in August 1942 at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was with the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment. In September of 1943 he with his division were stationed in England awaiting the invasion of Europe. On June 6, 1944, Major J.W. Vaughan lost his life in the early morning operations of D-Day. He was the highest ranking officer of the 502nd to die that day. He is survived by two children, Suzanne and Stephen. Major Vaughan is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in France.∼Patrolman J.W. Vaughan, 33, served with the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. He had been an officer of the 101st Airborne since its inception in August 1942.
Major Vaughan was among the many from his division who were dropped at the wrong location into the darkness of the Normandy terrain during the early morning operations of D-Day on June 6, 1944. He was eventually able to band together with others from his unit.
The objective of Major Vaughan's unit was to secure four roads leading to Utah Beach. Approximately one mile from Ste. Mere Eglise, they intercepted an enemy column transporting supplies via horse drawn wagons.
Major Vaughan, who was the S-4 officer, was commanded to secure the wagons. In the darkness, with his .45 drawn, Vaughan walked to the back of the train. A burst of fire erupted, and Vaughan was killed.
Major Vaughan was the highest-ranking officer of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment to lose his life during the invasion on June 6 and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France.
Vaughan was born in Campbellsburg, Kentucky on February 6, 1911, and was a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis.
He had been appointed to the Indianapolis Police Department on December 1, 1936. He was survived by his wife, Estella, and a five-year old daughter and an eighteen-month-old son.
Major Vaughan was among the many from his division who were dropped at the wrong location into the darkness of the Normandy terrain during the early morning operations of D-Day on June 6, 1944. He was eventually able to band together with others from his unit.
The objective of Major Vaughan's unit was to secure four roads leading to Utah Beach. Approximately one mile from Ste. Mere Eglise, they intercepted an enemy column transporting supplies via horse drawn wagons.
Major Vaughan, who was the S-4 officer, was commanded to secure the wagons. In the darkness, with his .45 drawn, Vaughan walked to the back of the train. A burst of fire erupted, and Vaughan was killed.
Major Vaughan was the highest-ranking officer of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment to lose his life during the invasion on June 6 and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France.
Vaughan was born in Campbellsburg, Kentucky on February 6, 1911, and was a graduate of Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis.
He had been appointed to the Indianapolis Police Department on December 1, 1936. He was survived by his wife, Estella, and a five-year old daughter and an eighteen-month-old son.
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MAJ 502 PRCHT INF 101 ABN DIV INDIANA
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