Posted on 09/22/2013 5:51:18 PM PDT by RaceBannon
A veteran of three U.S. armed conflicts who's believed to be a direct descendent of Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion has died.
Goldfinch Funeral Home in Conway, which is handling arrangements, confirmed Saturday afternoon that Lt. Gen. James B. Vaught died Sept. 20, 2013. He was 86. Services have been scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Tilly Swamp Baptist Church outside of Conway, according to a Goldfinch Funeral Home representative. Horry County Coroner Robert Edge said Vaught died at about 5:30 p.m. Friday. He was found in a pond off Old Reaves Ferry Road outside of Conway, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Edge said Vaught was at the pond in a pontoon boat. Vaught's family called 911 after he didn't return home. Divers found Vaught in the pond after a search. Edge said the pontoon boat was about 30 feet from shore. "We're assuming he fell off the pontoon," Edge said. An autopsy will be conducted later Saturday to determine the cause of death and also how Vaught may have fallen into the water.
"I'm sure he'll be missed by his family and in the political world too," Edge said.
Born Nov. 3, 1926, Gen. Vaught served in three wars - World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He retired to the Myrtle Beach area, where he remained an active public servant and citizen.
Vaught has received, among other recognitions, the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier’s Medal, Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with numeral 5, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge with one Star.
Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach, released a statement along with a photo of himself with Gen. Vaught on Clemmons' Facebook page.
"I am very sad to report that a local and national military hero, Lt. General James Vaught, passed away last night. General Vaught has been my dear friend since he and his beautiful bride, Florence, returned to his native Horry County for retirement. I am grateful for his lifetime of contributions to our nation, but more so for his friendship and advice over the years. If you didn't have the honor of knowing General Vaught, I have attached a link to some information on his amazing career and life. Please join me in a prayer of comfort for Miss Florence and the Vaught family," the statement said.
God Speed general Vaught.
In 1980, I was one of the Marines off Iran for the Hostage Rescue Attempt. Since 2000, I have made each 5-year memorial service. I had the honor of meeting General Vaught several times and having breakfast with him in 2010 the day of the memorial
God Speed, General Vaught!
http://www.wbtw.com/story/23493403/lt-general-james-b-vaught-found-dead#.Uj8XAzHD3L0.facebook
in memorium bump list
Sounds like a very dedicated soldier. Having received all those medals fro bravery he must have been in a lot of combat.
One thing I noticed is the story mentions a pontoon boat. Those are common and I have noted the word pontoon is always spelled that way.
However reading U.S. Army Signal Corps history from WWII, they always, and I mean 100% of the time use the word ponton without the double “o”. I have no idea why but it strikes me as odd.
Another odd thing to me is in the movie “The Patriot” is clearly based on the story of Frances Marion, the Swamp Fox.
In fact it goes by the story closer than most movies which are considered biographies. Why did they leave out that fact and just call it “The Patriot?
South Carolina/Francis Marion ping.
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“Another odd thing to me is in the movie “The Patriot” is clearly based on the story of Frances Marion, the Swamp Fox.”
The Mel Gibson character was a composite of Francis Marion and Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Morgan
Particularly the climactic battle (Cowpens) where the strategy is laid out beforehand. (Militia to the center, 2-shots and fall back behind the line (infantry). That was Dan Morgan.
I met Vaught the first time in 1980, he was on the port catwalk of the Okinawa, and I saw someone wearing a t-shirt and had his trousers bloused as a Soldier, not a Marine and he was wearing Army jump boots, not Marine Boots.
So, I asked him, Hey, what you doing wearing Army fatigues?
He looked at me, chuckled a little, and said, Well, since I’m in the Army, I should wear my uniform, shouldn’t I??
So, I ragged on him a little bit, he and the guy next to him, who I think might have been General Jerry Boykin, were elbowing each other, not letting me in on the inside joke that I was speaking like that to a General...
I related that story to him the breakfast we had in 2010, he just grinned
He still had his mind with him in 2010, and I WISH I could repeat some of the stuff he told me, it was just amazing!
they must have an error, though, he is too young to have served in WWII, I think, my Mom is 88, 89 in Oct, she was Navy 44 to 46
Vaught being 86, I think he would only have been stateside for any time there, or still in college
He would have been 18 in 1945. He easily could have lied about his age and joined in 1943.
I know because my Uncle lied about his age and joined in 1942 at age 15.
If this is correct, he would have hit 18 on Nov 3, 1944.
yeah, yer right, I keep thinking how my Dad was 1923, mom 1924, both went in right out of high school
I think his character was a composite of Francis Marion and Thomas Sumter.
I think quite a few lied about their age to go to WWII. My father-in-law was in combat in Europe on his 17th birthday, so with training- even if it was short training he had to be 15-16 when he enlisted. I don’t think it was considered a big deal then, they just needed so many and most considered teen age boys to be men then anyway since most did a man’s day of work.
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