Vaughn, Harry Briggs
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Biographical Text
“My breathing apparatus was shut completely. It was just as if someone was strangling me."
-Captain Vaughan describing a gas attack
Captain Harry Briggs Vaughan, from Norfolk, Virginia, graduated from VPI in 1910 with a degree in Civil Engineering. While at VPI, Vaughan was a member of the VPI football team, the GERMAN Club, and was in the Corps of Cadets regimental band (today known was the Highty Tighties).
During World War I, Captain Vaughan served in the American Expeditionary Force with the 306th Engineers in the 81st “Wild Cat” Division. During the Meuse-Argonne Offensive from September 26 to November 11, 1918, Captain Vaughan was cited for “gallant and meritorious conduct” during the offensive.
During the Meuse-Argonne his unit suffered heavy causalities, and Vaughan was among the 40 in his unit who were wounded during a gas attack. Vaughn described the experience in a letter, writing that "I will never forget that experience. I have gotten into gas but never in any as dense as this. My breathing apparatus was shut completely. It was just as if someone was strangling me."
Vaughn spent five days in recovery until he rejoined his unit, fighting until the armistice on November 11, 1918.
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Decorations or Citations
- In genral orders No. 50 of the 81st Division, Major General Charles G. Bailey commanding, Captain Harry B. Vaughn of Norfolk was cited for "efficency and untiring efforts during the whole period of perations fo rhis working in providing the needed bridge material and maintaining the limited motor transportation so as to keep supplied and rations on hands when needed. Captain VAught's aid was also cited for gallant conduct under fire and for conducing the officer to the place of saftey under heavy fire and gas over shell torn roads."
Information taken from The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume 27, page 177.
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Bibliography
- "Definite Information in Regard to the Experiences of Captain Harry B. Vaughn, Jr., '11 of the 81st ("Wild Cat") Division", The Virginia Tech, 10 April 1919, Blacksburg, Virginia.
- Virginia Tech, 1910 Bugle yearbook, Virginia Tech Special Collections, pg. 84.
- Letter from Harry Vaugn published in The Virginia Tech campus newspaper, 3 April 1919
Files
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