He was born in Massie's Mill, Nelson County. At the war's outset, he had moved to Waynesboro and was working for DuPont. He enlisted on Dec 5, 1941 in Roanoke. His service # was 33091780. The interment card shows that he was assigned to the 632d Ordnance Company, which was an ammunition company assigned to the 96th Division in the Pacific. The 96th Division (the Deadeye Division) distinguished itself in the Leyte and Samar Islands campaigns in the Philippines and in the battle of Okinawa. During the Leyte landings, the official history describes the 632d ammunition company setting up both an ammunition supply point and another supply point for the division's water, rations, and miscellaneous items.

The 632d Ordnance Company was one of two ammunition companies that landed on the first day of the Okinawa landings in the XXIV Corps area, setting up an ammunition supply dump 150 yards inland from the beach.

PFC John Vaughan died on July 10, 1945 and according to the Virginia War Memorial, his death is classified as Died Non-Battle. He was buried temporarily in Okinawa Island Cemetery and re interred in the "Punchbowl", the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. The Virginia War memorial lists his name as Johnnie. He is also listed as Johnnie in the 1920 census. The Memorial Plaque on the Augusta County Courthouse lists his name as John Vaughns.

Information on John Vaughan is courtesy of Historian Melissa Patrick.