Deployed Guardsman and Family honor Cape employers

For Spc. David Vaughn and his wife, Tricia, the support they receive is more than just helpful, it's life saving.

Vaughn is currently deployed with the 1138th Engineer Sapper Company in Afghanistan conducting route clearance missions since September 2012.

Every day he's gone it's emotionally difficult for himself and Tricia with their two children, Logan, 6, and Caitlin, 4.

When they're employers at Girardeau Stevedores and Contractors, Inc., which operates the public cargo dock at Semo Port providing terminal operations, rigging, storage, warehousing, trucking, and marine construction, and Martin Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, both of Cape Girardeau, went above and beyond to support not only Tricia but Vaughn and his fellow Guardsmen they nominated them for a Patriot Award in recognition of their extraordinary support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserves.

The Patriot Award was created by the Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who have answered their nation's call to duty.

"I asked him, 'David if you don't mind, I'll be praying for you while you're gone,'" said Gale Gither, a truck driver with Girardeau Stevedores. "And it's just gone from there."

Along with Amy and Tonya Koch, and his church Christian Life in Advance, Gither and sent care packages and supported Tricia on a weekly basis for anything she might need help with.

Even from the day they hired him as a truck driver just five months before he was schedule to deploy, Vaughn felt supported and looked after.

"They were willing to hire me knowing I was going to be gone soon, not many people would do that," said Vaughn. "To me that in itself shows the kind of people they are."

That support and encouragement is also why Tricia wanted to honor Dr. Richard Martin and his wife Sue.

They've understood the ups and downs of a deployment, from the emotional toll to the sometimes physical and financial burdens of everyday life without her husband home, said Tricia.

Martin, who served in the Active Army, said you always wish you could do more and he and Sue can remember how hard it was when he had to leave and she was left behind.

"We miss him here," said Sue. "David has been an inspiration to us."

Sue also sent care packages to Vaughn and his fellow Guardsman, and the support they've given her has been invaluable to her, said Tricia.

"They ensured when he was training and received a pass I had days off to spend with him, even on short notice," said Tricia. "They're always understanding of the kids being sick or if I have to miss work to deal with any problems."

For Vaughn, miles away from his Family, knowing there's people taking care of them helps relieve some of his burden.

"It means so much," said Vaughn. "It makes this time easier and I can concentrate better on the things here because I know they'll do thing right by here there."

The Patriot Award was an honor Martin, Sue, Tonya, Amy and Gither were all thankful to receive.

"It's very thoughtful of David and Tricia," said Tonya Koch, when presented with the award. "We didn't expect anything like this."

"It's an awesome honor," agreed Gither. "I'm blown away by it. I just can't wait to see him home."

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