Fallen Navy SEAL Officer Aaron Vaughn Celebrated for His Faith in Jesus
The family of one of the 30 U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Saturday by Taliban forces spoke out about Navy Seal Aaron Vaughn’s love for God and love for his country on NBC’s Today show.
Talking to Matt Lauer about the brave officer, his wife Kimberly Vaughn, a former NFL cheerleader, opened up about her husband who was an “amazing father” and man of faith.
The couple, who had been married for three years had two children together, including a 2-year-old son Reagan, and 2-month old girl Chamberlyn. Vaughn was present for both of his children’s births, having last been with his family in June before volunteering to go back to Afghanistan.
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When asked what was the one thing she wanted their kids to learn from their father, she answered his love. “They will take away his love for Christ. They will take away his dream and his love for this country.”
She also told CNN that her husband was a “warrior for Christ” and that “he wouldn’t want to leave this Earth any other way than how he did.”
“I’m proud that I will get to carry on his legacy through our children,” Kimberly added.
His mother and father, Karen and Billy Vaughn, also shared with Lauer what they were most proud of about their son and how they would remember his legacy.
“[Aaron] loved his country, he loved God, he loved Reagan and Chamberlyn, and he honestly believed and saw black and white that what we’re involved in is a war for the survival of our republic,” his father revealed.
His mother remarked that if her son could do it all over again, she knew he would; he loved and believed in America. “[What] Aaron would want everybody to know most is that he loved America. He believed America could be great again, and he fought for the America he grew up in.”
As to what she was most proud of among his many achievements, she expressed, “I’m most proud of Aaron’s humility and nobility, but more than anything I’m most proud of the way he loved God and how important his faith was to him.”
His grandmother, Geneva Vaughn, also highlighted his faith to CNN.
“Aaron was a Christian and he stood firm in his faith,” she shared. During her last conversation with him she told him to be careful. He responded, “Granny, don’t worry about me ... I’m not afraid because I know where I’m going if something happens to me.”
“He’s with the Lord now and I’ll see him again someday,” she added.
His wife Kimberly also knew that she would meet her husband again someday. “His last words to me were, ‘I love you, I’ll talk to you later.’ And one day in heaven we will,” she affirmed on ABC.
A Facebook prayer page has been dedicated to the surviving family of the Navy SEAL. One wall post reads, “‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ John 15:13. Aaron Vaughn was one of the 22 Navy Seals killed in a helicopter crash on August 6. As described by his family, he was a man of faith and true patriotism. This page was created to raise funds for his wife Kimberly and two children left behind.”
Messages of thanks and prayers flood the page. Others are also organizing fundraisers and rallying support for the rest of the Navy SEAL wives and mothers who have lost their loved ones in the recent attack.
From babysitting to cooking, people are doing what they can at the home base to ensure that every affected person has the care they need.
The Naval Special Warfare Foundation is also providing immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families.
