Sugar Bear Foundation Honors the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country while we support the spouses and children they leave behind.
“Kraig was an amazing husband, father and friend who is dearly missed.”
Sugar Bear Foundation Honors the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country while we support the spouses and children they leave behind. Please consider making a donation today to help us continue the programs we offer.
“DJ was a loving father and husband. He served his country with honor and pride. We miss him dearly.”
Sugar Bear Foundation Honors the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country while we support the spouses and children they leave behind. Please consider making a donation today to help us continue the programs we offer.
“Special Warfare Operation (SEAL) Chief Petty Officer Aaron Carson Vaughn was born on June 24, 1981 in Union City, Tennessee. He graduated from Obion County Central High School in Troy, TN in June 1999. He received his Associates Degree from Indian River Community College in Florida and was pursuing his bachelor’s degree from Excelsior College. Chief Petty Officer Vaughn enlisted in the Navy and reported to Naval Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois on November 25, 2002. On February 4, 2003, he completed basic training and reported to A-School at FCFCLANT DAM NECK, Virginia for three months. On May 23, 2003, he entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/s) Training in Coronado, California. After six months of grueling and demanding training, he graduated from BUD/s Class 248 and immediately proceeded to Advanced SEAL Qualification Training, graduating in October 2004. Chief Petty Officer Vaughn served his first SEAL Team, SEAL TEAM ONE, in Coronado, California from November 2004-May 2008. He was then assigned to Naval Special Warfare Training Detachment Assaults from May 2008 to May 2010, where he was CQC (Close Quarter Combat) and Lead Breacher Instructor. In May 2010, Chief Petty Officer Vaughn began rigorous selection and training with Naval Special Warfare Development Group. This training included Close Quarters Battle, Military Free-Fall, Tactical First Response Medical Training, Survival Evasion and Escape (SERE), Combat Pistol and Rifle Courses and numerous other courses. He endured several months of the most rigorous training offered in the military and upon successful completion reported to Naval Special Warfare and Development and Evaluation Squadron Three in December 2010. Chief Petty Officer Vaughn has completed numerous deployments around the world and combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Chief Petty Officer Aaron Vaughn was a highly decorated combat veteran with numerous awards including the Joint Service Achievement Medal with Valor, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Valor, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism (Service) Medal, Global War on Terrorism (Expeditionary) Medal and numerous other personal and unit decoration. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Bronze Star Medal with Valor. Chief Petty Officer Vaughn is survived by his loving wife, Kimberly, 2 year old son, Reagan, 4 month old daughter, Chamberlyn, his parents Billy and Karen, his sisters Tara and Ana, and numerous other family, friends, and teammates.”
Sugar Bear Foundation Honors the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country while we support the spouses and children they leave behind. Please consider making a donation today to help us continue the programs we offer.
“Marco was kind, caring, hard working and the life of the party, and that shows through today in his children Mikayla and Tuftin.”
Sugar Bear Foundation Honors the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country while we support the spouses and children they leave behind. Please consider making a donation today to help us continue the programs we offer.
Demond was such a great family man. He always made sure his family was OK first. And he was a great mentor for young sailors. He always took good care of his friends and family. He was a very caring man. We miss him tremendously. Our 17 year old daughter Alise and I currently live in Japan. Our beautiful daughter looks just like her dad, and every time people mention it, it makes me smile. Her passion is tennis! She is in senior year this fall, so she’s determined to win the games! She’s planning to go to college in CA. I am working on building a maintenance company as a part-time, and full time mom! I also volunteer whenever I have time. I got this passion for volunteering after my husband passed because we received so much support, so I want to give back to our community.
Sugar Bear Foundation Honors the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country while we support the spouses and children they leave behind. Please consider making a donation today to help us continue the programs we offer.
“I met my husband, Chris in 1991. After he graduated high school, his parents dictated his career path. He was told the school that he would attend and the degree that he would pursue. However, his parents did not not provide any emotional or financial support. Chris was working three jobs and studying something that he was not interested in. He wanted to pursue his own interests and knew that he had to venture out of our hometown to do so. Chris’ grandfather and my father both served in the US Army and were positive influences in his life. He explored his options and decided that the Navy was the best choice for his life path. He enlisted on November 21, 1996. After recruit training, Chris completed Fire Control ‘A’ School and MK-86 Fire Control ‘C’ School at ‘Naval Training Center, ‘ Great Lakes, IL. Later he completed the MK-160 ‘C’ School and Micro and Mini Electronic Repair (2M) at Naval Station Norfolk, VA. He was designated as a Fire Controlman (FC) specializing in the MK-86 Gun Fire Control System and later the MK-160 Gun Weapon System. Chris was an incredible Sailor who moved through the ranks quickly. He advanced to the rank of Chief Petty Officer (E-7) in about 7 years. Soon thereafter, he decided to change career paths. He applied for, and was accepted into the Navy’s Limited Duty Officer (LDO) Program as an Ordinance Officer. He completed LDO training at Officer Training Command, in Newport, RI. Chris received numerous awards and honors. They include but are not limited to: the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct, National Defense, Armed Forces Expedition, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Sea Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Pistol Marksman Ribbon. He also earned his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Surface Warfare Officer designators. During his 19 years of service, Chris was stationed on the USS Nicholson (DD-982), the USS Vella Gulf (CG-72), the USS Comstock (LSD-45), the USS Cape St. George (CG-71), and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). He was also stationed at NAES Lakehurst, NJ and at White Sands Missile Range in NM. He was a Lieutenant at the time of his death. His fitness reports were always outstanding and he was consistently recommended for advancement. Chris served the Navy with his full heart and soul and I have no doubt that he would have continued to advance through retirement. I am proud of my husband for many reasons but most of all of his emotional strength and his selflessness. I know how hard it was for him to have been deployed the greater majority of his life and although he struggled with his absenteeism, he was determined to provide the best life possible for me and our children. I saw how the stress affected him but he pressed on for his family. He suppressed his emotional distress and left it at the front door. He never let Ryan or Dylan know that he was exhausted mentally and physically and he gave everything toward being the amazing father that he was when he was with them. It is painful that he was so close to retirement and died before we could ever truly be together as family. His death was the most painful experience of my life. He was and always will be the love of my life. Living without him has been extremely challenging to say the least. My children and I miss him dearly. If there was any wish we could have, it would be to have him back in our lives.”
Sugar Bear Foundation Honors the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country while we support the spouses and children they leave behind. Please consider making a donation today to help us continue the programs we offer.
Ji Ho Lee served as a US Navy Seabee from 1999-2003. He was deployed to the Iraq War and got 100% PTSD disability from his military period. He was a great servant for the USA and a loving father/husband to us.
Sugar Bear Foundation Honors the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country while we support the spouses and children they leave behind. Please consider making a donation today to help us continue the programs we offer.
Sugar Bear Foundation Honors the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country while we support the spouses and children they leave behind. Please consider making a donation today to help us continue the programs we offer.
