Ipava Twins Die In Action In FranceIpava Twins Die In Action In FranceThe twins were sons of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Vaughn of Ipava. They were born Sept. 17, 1918, less than two months before the signing of the armistice which ended the first World War. They played together as children, went to school together and when they grew to manhood were constant companions.
When Otis Wilson was called to service by his draft board late in 1941, his brother, Archie Willis, from whom he had never been separated, enlisted so they could remain together. They were sent to Ft. Sheridan, Ill., together for induction. Then for the first time in their lives they were separated, one being assigned to duty with one company, the other with another. The separation lasted for only a few days, however, before both were assigned to the same unit.
In January, 1942, the unit received orders assigning it to duty in Iceland. The twin brothers were included. They remained in the same outfit in Iceland. About six months ago they were transferred to England. Then came the invasion and they were sent to France where they remained together on the battlefields — brothers and pals still when both were killed in action.
The parents were notified Thursday through Col. John S. Sullivan, Camp Ellis commandant, of the death of their sons. Col. Sullivan was asked by the war department to convey the message announcing that they had been killed in action.
Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn have four other sons serving in the armed forces, one of whom is Sgt. Marshall Vaughn, stationed at Biggs Field, Texas, where he was assigned following his return to the United States from Africa where he was wounded in action. The others are Sgt. Mervin Vaughn, on duty at a San Antonio, Texas, camp; Cpl. Melvin Vaughn, whose address is New York City; and S1c Perry Richard Vaughn, Baltimore, Md.
Two sisters, Mrs. Kenneth Sheets and Mrs. John Bennett, live in Lewistown. Two others, Mrs. Evelyn Huff and Mrs. Myrna Armstrong, are in Rock Island. The latter’s husband is in the army.
Other survivors include two nieces, Miss Margaret Bennett and Miss Evelyn Bennett, two nephews, Clarence Sheets and John Huff. Miss Dorothy McCarty of Canton was the fiancé of Willis Vaughn.
Both men were active in sports, both playing basketball and baseball at Ipava High school and later were members of Ipava city baseball team. Known as “Wid” and “Bill,” they had many friends thru-out the county.
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IPAVA — Memorial service was held Sunday for Archie Willis Vaughn and Otis Wilson Vaughn, both of 2nd Infantry Co. H. They were born on Sept. 17, 1918 and died Sept. 11, 1944. The services were held at the Methodist church. Invocation by Rev. Edward Ferguson, pastor of Methodist church of Lewistown and he also read the scripture. Address, Capt. Robert A. Cuthbert, Personnel Affairs Office, Camp Ellis, Ill.; address, Col. John S. Sullivan, commanding officer, Camp Ellis; address, Chaplain S. H. Frazier, Camp Ellis; music, taps, and benediction.
The Vaughn twins were sons of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Vaughn and were killed in action in France. They entered service April 10, 1941 and were the first twins from Fulton county to be inducted. They were at Fort Sheridan, Ill., then to Ft. Custer to train for the infantry. They maneuvered in Tennessee and Arkansas before being sent overseas in February, 1942. They spent eighteen months in Iceland before going to France June 9, three days after D-day.
Besides their parents are four brothers and four sisters, two nieces and two nephews, and Miss Dorothy McCarty of Canton, who was the fiancé of Willis, will mourn their passing.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus