| Spc. Brian Alex Vaughn United States Army KIA 21 June 2005, Iraq |
As a 10-year-old, Brian Vaughn was already confident of his ability to save lives after he received
first-aid certifications. His mother, Terry Savage, said Vaughn took that confidence with him into
the Army when he became a medic. "Anytime we saw a wreck, he was like, `Mom, stop the car. I'm
trained. I have a card,'" she said. "He knew no fear." Vaughn, 23, of Pell City, Ala., died June 21 of
small-arms fire in Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Carson. Vaughn's aunt, Cheryl Vaughn, believes
Vaughn's fearlessness would have prevented him from choosing a course in life other than the
one that led him to service in Iraq. "If he knew how it was going to end up I think he still would
have gone over there," she said. Savage said Vaughn had not been home in almost two years and
she had encouraged him to take some leave time, but Vaughn chose to continue working. "He
said, `I can't leave my guys because if something happens to them I have to be there to take care
of them,'" Savage said. "He felt like they were his responsibility."
first-aid certifications. His mother, Terry Savage, said Vaughn took that confidence with him into
the Army when he became a medic. "Anytime we saw a wreck, he was like, `Mom, stop the car. I'm
trained. I have a card,'" she said. "He knew no fear." Vaughn, 23, of Pell City, Ala., died June 21 of
small-arms fire in Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Carson. Vaughn's aunt, Cheryl Vaughn, believes
Vaughn's fearlessness would have prevented him from choosing a course in life other than the
one that led him to service in Iraq. "If he knew how it was going to end up I think he still would
have gone over there," she said. Savage said Vaughn had not been home in almost two years and
she had encouraged him to take some leave time, but Vaughn chose to continue working. "He
said, `I can't leave my guys because if something happens to them I have to be there to take care
of them,'" Savage said. "He felt like they were his responsibility."
Memorial Page Established by Terry Savage In Honor Of Spc. Brian Alex Vaughn Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. 2nd Tim 4:7 These two scriptures describe Spc.Brian Alex Vaughn perfectly. He was killed in Iraq while on a mission that he took instead of a fellow medic. He literally laid down his life and that medic’s life was spared. Alex had the simple trust and joy of a beloved child of God and he tried to show that to others in his everyday life and work. He made Jesus real to people without having to preach to them and we will never know how many lives he touched in his 23 short years here on earth. He was a natural comedian and storyteller who always had time to talk or just listen to a friend. Alex truly loved with a pure heart and he lived to make others laugh. Since his death I have received countless tributes from friends and family and Army brothers and sisters and they all have the same theme: “Alex was my best friend”, “he loved us for who we were” and “we will never forget the difference he made in our lives”. Some even claimed he was an angel sent to earth, including a few non believers. Alex “walked the walk” that so many of us struggle with in our life here on earth. He was a servant in his everyday life and loved his work as an U.S. Army Combat Medic in Ramadi, Iraq. To his soldiers, he was their medic, their confidant, and their friend. He refused to take leave the entire year he was there because no other medic could take care of his men like he could. He said “They didn’t love his men like he did”. And his men loved him in return because of his selfless ways but also because he was a real person with problems and fears of his own and they could relate to him. The love of God radiated from him and others were drawn to it even though they might not even know what it was that was tugging at their hearts. They just saw Alex, the huge hearted, goofy comedian and friend who would never let you down. The buddy who wasn’t a saint but who showed you that it’s your heart that matters to God and his was the biggest heart we’ve ever known. I know that he’s waiting for me in heaven and he will run to me on that day, laughing and whooping and bursting to tell me what he and Jesus have been doing while we were apart. I can just hear him saying “Hey Jesus, watch this!” as he pulls some amazing and hilarious stunt to make the Lord smile just like we did. Terry Savage Proud Army Mom to Spc. Brian Alex Vaughn KIA 6-21-05 November 20, 2007 Brandon Schumacher If a fellow Soldier names his own first born son after that Soldier, then you can imagine what kind of man that Soldier was. I will teach Brian Alexander Schumacher to carry on Vaughn's spirit of love and dedication to his fellow man. Vaughn lived all of the really important virtues and none of the stuffy ones. He kept his eye on the big picture. Our world needs more men like Vaughn. God bless Terry and Peggy and all of the family. November 19, 2007 Vicki Bayer I knew Alex through his grandfather Martin Rosser. It has been a shattering, far reaching loss. He is at peace with Our Father. Respectfully, Vicki |
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| Alex with Iraqi Children |
| Alex, Army Combat Medic, Confidant and Friend |