National Guard soldier surprises son with homecoming

Logan Vaughn, a kindergarten student at Alma Schrader Elementary School, received the surprise of his life Monday morning when a special visitor walked into his classroom.

The visitor was his father, Spc. David Vaughn of the Missouri National Guard, who hadn't seen Logan since his deployment to Afghanistan in July.

Logan Vaughn ran to his father, who lifted the boy from his feet and embraced him in a display of affection that brought smiles to Logan's classmates.

"Are you surprised, Logan?" asked his teacher, Bonnie LeGrand.

"Yeah!" Logan exclaimed.

David Vaughn was joined at the classroom homecoming by his wife Patricia and daughter Abby, who also received a surprise visit from her father earlier that morning at her day-care class.

"David's unit got home yesterday," Patricia Vaughn said. "He hasn't seen the kids since last July. I traveled to Texas to be with him in August, and that was the last time we were together. We've all missed him a lot."

David Vaughn didn't come empty-handed when he paid a visit to his son. He presented Logan and his classmates with a U.S. flag that had been signed by every Guardsman in his unit, the 1138th Engineer Company, which has its headquarters in Farmington, Mo.

According to Michelle Queiser, public affairs representative for the Missouri National Guard, the 93-person unit was deployed to conduct route-clearance support and missions in Afghanistan. The unit began its yearlong deployment process in June with pre-mobilization training at Camp Clark in Nevada, Mo., and continued mobilization training at Fort Bliss, Texas, before making the journey to Afghanistan. David Vaughn and other unit members, known as "Sappers," executed more than 120 missions and cleared 25 routes, with 30,000 kilometers traveled and nearly 70 improvised explosive devises, or IEDs, found and disabled.

1st Sgt. Richard Parks of the Engineer Company directed David Vaughn while in Afghanistan. Parks said David Vaughn "did an excellent job."

"He exemplified confidence, courage and commitment," Parks said. "He was a team player all the way."

Parks also said about half of the company were married with children.

"Being away can be difficult," he said. "But we were fortunate that our base, Forward Operating Base Frontenac, was equipped with Internet and phone service so families could stay in touch from time to time."

LeGrand said Patricia Vaughn contacted her to see if it was OK for Logan's father to surprise him in the classroom.

"I had noticed that Logan missed his father," LeGrand said. "Sometimes he would write 'I love my dad' on his class work. His mother called me and things grew from there."

What grew from there included not only the surprise visit, but a surprise all-school assembly in David Vaughn's honor.

"You are a hero," said Ruth Ann Orr, principal of Alma Schrader Elementary School, during the assembly. "We're so glad to have you home."

David Vaughn was treated by students and teachers to rousing renditions of patriotic songs including "You're A Grand Old Flag," "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" and "This Is My Country."

"Support means a lot when you're gone," David Vaughn told the assembly. "I appreciate it very much."

After the assembly, David Vaughn and his family enjoyed breakfast together at the school, and Orr gave Logan the day off to spend time with his father.

"I'm taking the kids fishing in the next couple of days," David Vaughn said. "I feel great."

klewis@semissourian.com

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