Specialist Travis R. Vaughn died 18 February 2007 in southeastern Afghanistan when his MH-47E Chinook Helicopter, #472, crashed while conducting operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

SPC Vaughn was born on 1 September 1980 in Waterloo, Iowa. He graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1999 and volunteered for service in the U.S. Army in October 2003 as a Chinook Helicopter Repairer. After completing Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Eustis, Virginia, SPC Vaughn was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, Camp Humphreys, Korea. He arrived at the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in July 2005 and completed the Enlisted Green Platoon course. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion at Fort Campbell, as an MH-47E Maintenance Team Member and as an MH-47 Crew Chief with Bravo Company. SPC Vaughn deployed twice in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

SPC Vaughn was a graduate of the Chinook Helicopter Repairer Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course, Combatives Level 1 Course, and the Special Operations Training Course.

SPC Vaughn's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Aircraft Crew Member Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Medal.

SPC Vaughn is survived by his wife, Heather; son, Taylin; parents, Bradley and Kandi; his mother, Christine; and brother, Jayson. He is laid to rest in Waterloo, Iowa, at Waterloo Memorial Park.