Hurc killed in action in Iraq RIP

clffhnger · #1 06-09-2006, 01:51 AM

Most of us remember Hurc, I'm sure Rich really does, It looks like we have lost another Jeepster lover and protector of our country in Iraq. Damn, he was just a kid.

[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Hurc/Random/untitled.bmp[/image] [image]

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This from his hometown club.
http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showt...d=1#post481531

I'm sure many of you know our dear friend and fellow CO4X4 member, John Shaw Vaughan or "Hurc". At 0700 this morning, his sister called me to say that he was killed in action yesterday (Wednesday) in Mosul, Iraq. Lt John Shaw Vaughan was in the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team based in Fairbanks, AK and he had just been in Iraq about a month, on the streets, where it's most dangerous. John was proud to be in the Army, and of his tour in Iraq. He was very positive about his work and the people there and was writing regularly, posting his pics on photobucket.com. I think he'd like his friends to share his photo album. When he graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, I gave him a plastic "Jimmy Neutron" in the jet for fun. Jimmy had made the run from Colorado, to Daytona, to the Artic Circle, and on to Iraq as seen in his album. John always could find fun in whatever he was doing and he brightened any place he went.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v227/Hurc/Iraq/

From his letters, and when I last spoke with him about a week ago, things were fairly calm with few, random drive by pot shots from what he said were "few and far in-between" bad guys. I went up to Edwards, CO today to see his family and to offer what support I could. John and I were very close and he was like a son to me. We'd become friends through our love of Jeepsters and wheeling and had become like family over the past several years. John took the AVATAR pic on my CO4x4 ID when we last wheeled Holy Cross together.

John's family met with the Army reps today and will be flown back to the U.S. in the next few days. The actual day is still tenative. A small, private memorial service is planned for his family's home in Edwards, CO over the weekend (?) and the military funeral serices will be held after, in Florida, where John will most likely be laid to rest near his grandfather. The details are still not quite firm.

I hope you will all join me in prayer for him and his family. We're proud of his service and we are all better to have known John for his positive outlook, his great sense of humor, and seeing the good in everyone.

God Bless you, Lt. John. We will miss you.

Bonecruncher · #2 06-09-2006, 02:22 AM

Very sad to hear. R.I.P.

Thank you and God Bless.

thomjpster · #3 06-09-2006, 09:52 AM

R.I.P Hurc

My biggest regret is to have never shaken his hand

Thom

Joe67Conv · #4 06-09-2006, 10:23 AM

Clffhanger- Thanks for carrying my post over from CO4x4. I've been on this keyboard since coming home from Hurc's mom's yesterday. Everyone's support for him is greatly appreciated and the thread's will be forwarded to his mom.

I "adopted" John after we'd met at the 2000 AJC rally in Frisco. I remember this skinny young teenager hanging around asking question after question after question, then asking if he could drop by sometime when he came to Denver. When he did, he asked more questions and I took him around to various shops and parts yards to find things he needed. We once pulled a hydroboost off a shuttle bus in a half rain/half snow storm at Pull-N-Save. We'd been there a lot.

John's been the son I wish I had ever since, and without a second thought, family to me. John added so much to my life and we've had some great times. The very last time I wheeled my Jeepster was with John, on Holy Cross. He'd just bought "Hurc 2" with the 400hp V8 that his mom asked me to go check out for him before OKing it. It got my blessing, but overheated on HC and he parked it and rode with me. Even my Jeepster was running hot that day and I came back to Denver, pulled the front clip off, sold the 231 v6 and started building a 350. Well it's still not all together, but Hurc had emailed me last week and said I had better get it done by Summer's end, because he would be back through Colorado after this tour in Iraq. I actually uncovered the Jeepster after reading that email and was about to start working on it.

I watched John grow up from that skinny teenager that I worried about a little, into a great, intelligent and mature young man. I couldn't be more proud of him than if he was really my son.

On behalf of his family, thank you for all of your kind words, tears of support and for remembering him always.

As I posted on CO4x4, I will ask where his mom wants cards, etc sent to and update this post shortly.

God Bless all of his Jeeping friends.

Joe Horvath

thomjpster · #5 06-09-2006, 11:11 AM

Thanks Joe for the little peak into his life.

Take care and give his family my best wishes.

I hope we can meet some time and share some happy memories

Edit:

And, let's not forget why he was risking his life for us:
http://www.dem.com/ajcec/brian/

Thom

Jeepster Jim · #6 06-09-2006, 11:39 AM

Very sad to hear this news. R I P Hurc and your sacrifice will be remembered.

Budd · #7 06-09-2006, 12:36 PM

Prayers go out for his family and friends from mine. Very sad.

Randyzzz · #8 06-09-2006, 12:37 PM

R.I.P. Hurc. God Bless you, all that have gone before, and all who will follow...

Was just thinking about John last night, JP used his rollover picture as the centerspread opening shot for their "Rollover" article this month...hope he got to see it.

Tyrone Corn · #9 06-09-2006, 02:11 PM

I'm very sorry to hear of his passing. Thanks for making it known... it really personalizes the numbers I hear on the news.

That two-image before and after he posted was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Very unfortunate.

JeepTherapy · #10 06-09-2006, 03:33 PM

I met John about 6 years ago at the Jeepster Rally in Dillon. I remember that he was the one who did a lot of work organizing and putting together that event. There were about 30-40 Jeepsters there at the event. I was not able to take mine there due to it only being a rolling chassis at the time. I parked right next to John and spent some time talking with him during that event. I have kept track of him through this website and the Colorado4x4.org website over the past several years. Although quite young when I first met him, he struck me as a great person. He was easy going and very sociable. His first Jeepster was not very built at that time and only had 33" tires on it and he did not know as much about the Jeepsters as some of the other guys did, yet he was willing to share his knowledge with others without coming across as being an elitist. I am in shock and saddened to hear about his death, the second to the American Jeepster Club since prior to the start of the war. I saw a red Jeepster in Moab last month and did a double take as I thought it was Hurcules, but of course, it was not.

My condolences to his family, friends and those whose lives he did not touch. I feel blessed to have had my life touched by his presence and know that he is in a far much better place.

Kevin