GyBill
06-08-2009, 04:02 PM
Oceanside - Sgt. Major F.M. “Mike” Vaughn, USMC, passed into eternal life on June 2, 2009. The Sgt. Major was born June 28, 1924 in Plainview, Texas and moved shortly thereafter to Roswell, N.M., where he worked as a cowboy at the J.J. Lane ranch until enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in December of 1943. He was united in marriage to Miss Arlene Helen Fenrick of Evansville, WI, on January 18, 1947, and they were blessed with 62 years of marriage. The Sgt. Major enjoyed a long and successful career as a Marine. He was a Marine Raider on Iwo Jima and after WWII, served with the 8th Marines in the Occupation of Japan. He participated in Operation Polar Bear in Kodiak Alaska before seeing action in the Korean Conflict. He then attended Drill Instructor School at San Diego, where he finished top of his class and served as a Drill Instructor. Later, the Sgt. Major became NCOIC of Drill Instructor School, and the Chief Instructor at NCO Leadership School. He served two, 13 month tours in Vietnam, and retired as Sgt. Major of 3dBn., 3d Marines, 5th MAB. Mike received numerous awards and commendations throughout his 30 years of military service. His honors include 9 Good Conduct awards, 2 Cross of Gallantry awards, 27 ribbons and 18 medals, among them the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Combat “V”. He was an accomplished athlete, excelling in football, boxing, baseball and golf. From 1947-1949 he was all Marine on the Camp Pendleton Football team, and went on to win the Heavy Weight Boxing Championship (5th Marine Division) for 2 consecutive years. The Sgt. Major was awarded the Marine Athlete of The Year in 1949. Although there are too many to mention, two highlights of his military career included serving as the military technical/training advisor for John Wayne during the filming of The Sands of Iwo Jima and, as a result of his football career with the Marines, receiving an offer for a contract to play with the Los Angeles Rams that he declined because of his commitment to remain a Marine. He was the proud father of 6 children: David (Marilyn Barth); Delene Elizabeth (deceased); Debra (Madison) Mock; Dorie (William) Beres; Donald (Cathy Campbell), and Daniel (Lynn Reed). He is survived by 13 grandchildren: Jimmy Grijalva; David Brian Vaughn; Jesse Vaughn; Sara Vaughn Dabin; Christopher Mock; Tara Mock Hamilton (deceased); Rebecca Mock; Leah Beres Wyland; William Michael Beres; Brook Vaughn Hickerson; Heather Vaughn Johnson; Jeffrey Vaughn and James Vaughn, and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother; Sgt. Bill Mack Vaughn, and is survived by two brothers, Ted and Bobbi Vaughn, of Hereford, Texas. After his retirement, Mike and Arlene enjoyed living for several years in Joseph, Oregon and later returned to southern CA where he lived for the past 21 years. Mike and Arlene have enjoyed many wonderful years of visiting with children and grandchildren in various regions of the country. They were avid cruisers, and loved traveling. Mike was a member of the Optimists and Elks clubs, and a life-member of the USMC Sgt. Major Association and the USMC Drill Instructor Association. Mike wanted everyone to know that the highlight of his life was his marriage to his wife of 62 years, Arlene, and his wonderful family. He further wanted to express his gratitude that he was able to progress from being an un-educated “kid”, to achieving the highest Enlisted rank in the Marine Corps. Mike said that “the Marine Corps was good to me, and I was good to them”. Mike especially wanted to recognize his special friends from the Marine Corps Joe Campbell and Mr. John Augustine, and his life-long friends Lloyd and Joyce Sanders. Semper Fidelis, dad. We will miss your smile, enthusiasm for life, and tremendous influence on our lives. A memorial service, with Military Honors, will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 6, at Eternal Hills Mortuary in Oceanside.