Veterans Profile: Bill DeVaughn

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By Paul Gable

DeVaughn

Like many veterans of the Vietnam era, Bill DeVaughn remembers the negative attitude of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s toward military personnel and veterans. He is working hard to make sure that doesn’t happen to the current era of veterans.

“There were many guys who came home that could have used a helping hand and didn’t find one,” said DeVaughn.

DeVaughn entered an apprenticeship to become a journeyman electrician after graduating from high school in Fairfax, Virginia. He served four years as an apprentice, completing his training in 1968.

“I knew I wanted to be an electrician and I wanted to get my apprenticeship completed before joining the military,” DeVaughn said.

After earning his journeyman’s certification, DeVaughn enlisted in the Navy Seabees.

“I was following a family tradition,” DeVaughn said. “Many of my relatives had been in the Seabees during World War II.”

DeVaughn received his initial training with the Seabees in Gulfport, Mississippi, then, was transferred to a construction battalion unit out of Port Hueneme, California. After two years of service, DeVaughn received orders to Vietnam.

“Our job was to do what we could to keep the bases in shape and operating,” said DeVaughn. “For the last seven months of my tour, I worked with a river detachment in the Mekong Delta.”

He said the bases in the Delta were basically two barges tied to the shore, serving as base facilities for the Navy’s PBR’s (patrol boat, river). The patrol boats’ main mission was to interdict enemy supplies and units moving through the area.

“It wasn’t unusual for us to ride along on the boats during a mission,” said DeVaughn. “They could always use an extra hand, especially if things got hot.”

After completing his tour in Vietnam, DeVaughn returned to the U.S. where he was discharged.

“I joined Local 26 of the IBEW in the Washington, D.C. area and spent the next 35 years working in my trade,” said DeVaughn.

Much of this time was spent working for Walker Electric, a large contractor in the D.C. area.

“We had a number of contracts with government agencies including the Pentagon,” said DeVaughn. “Ironically, we had just finished a project at the Pentagon on September 10, 2001, but we lost two men who were in the Pentagon during the 9/11 terrorist attack.”

DeVaughn retired in 2006 and immediately became heavily involved in Veterans organizations.

“I was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for a while, but I was concentrating on my career and raising a family for many years,” said DeVaughn. “After I retired, I got really involved.”

Now living in Horry County, S.C., DeVaughn helped bring the concept of a Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center to the county.

“This is a place for veterans to gather and talk, as well as receive help with needs they may have,” DeVaughn said. “We needed something like this after Vietnam, but didn’t have it. We want to make sure the veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan have an easier time transitioning back to civilian life.”

The center provides information about available benefits and programs, serves as a referral center for jobs and legal help and also provides an area for general fellowship, according to DeVaughn.

He is also a member of Rolling Thunder, a national organization of bikers that works to continue awareness for those who are listed as POW or MIA.

“Rolling Thunder educates people about the POW and MIA issues from all wars, lobbies Congress and gets behind all veterans causes,” DeVaughn said.

“I put in more hours each week on veterans issues than I did on my job when I was working full time, but I love every minute of it,” DeVaughn said. “I want to make sure veterans feel appreciated for their service and will help them out in any way I can.”