The parents of SEAL Team Six member Aaron Carson Vaughn know what real courage and sacrifice is. Billy and Karen Vaughn’s son was killed with 37 others on August 6, 2011, when his helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. After watching the sickening beheading of James Foley, they were inspired to write a scathing open letter to President Obama.
The Vaughns are expressing what everyone has been feeling in a way only they can. This powerful piece needs to be read in full and shared far and wide:
After finally choosing to view the barbaric, on-camera beheading by ISIS of freelance war correspondent James Foley, I have been left with a level of rage known only to those of us who have sacrificed unspeakable offerings on the altar of world peace.
My offering was my only son — Aaron Carson Vaughn. Aaron was a member of SEAL Team VI. He was killed in action when a CH47D Chinook, carrying thirty Americans and eight Afghans was shot down in the Tangi River Valley of Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011.
Many times over the past three years, I have been asked what drove my son to choose his particular career. What made him want to be a Navy SEAL? My answer is simple.
Aaron Vaughn was a man who possessed the courage to acknowledge evil. And evil, once truly acknowledged, demands response. Perhaps this is why so few are willing to look it in the eye. It is much simpler — much safer — to look the other way.
That is, unless you are the leader of the Free World.
As Commander-in-Chief, your actions — or lack thereof — Mr. President, cost lives. As you bumble about in your golf cart, slapping on a happy face and fist-pounding your buddies, your cowardly lack of leadership has left a gaping hole — not only in America’s security — but the security of the entire globe. Your message has come across loud and clear, sir: You are not up to this job. You know it. We know it. The world knows it.
Please vacate the people’s house and allow a man or woman of courage and substance to seize the reigns of this out-of-control thug-fest and regain the balance we, America, have provided throughout our great history.
Thanks to your “leadership” from whatever multi-million dollar vacation you happen to be on at any given moment, the world is in chaos. What’s been gained, you’ve lost. What’s been lost, you’ve decimated. You’ve demolished our ability to hold the trust of allies. You’ve made a mockery of the title “President.” And you’ve betrayed the nation for which my son and over 1.3 million others have sacrificed their very lives.
But this should come as no surprise, since your wife uttered a vile statement on Feb. 18, 2008, during the primary campaign — one that speaks volumes of your true convictions. “For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country,” she said.
I am sure my deceased son thanks you for that, Mrs. Obama. Oh, and you’re welcome.
Never in my lifetime have I witnessed such despair and such growing fear that the world’s last best hope, America, has finally been dismantled. Perhaps the better word is transformed — fundamentally transformed. Come to think of it, it’s become difficult — if not impossible — to believe things haven’t gone exactly as you planned, Mr. President.
Amazingly, in five short years, your administration has lurched from one disaster to another. You spearheaded the ambitious rush to end the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan — with no plan on how to do so effectively. Also, the release of “the Taliban five” in exchange for one American — without consulting Congress — is also on your shoulders.
You have been at the helm during unprecedented national security leaks — including, but not limited to the outing of SEAL Team VI on the Bin laden raid, the outing of the Pakistani doctor who provided the intelligence for that raid, the outing of Afghanistan’s CIA station chief, and the outing of your personal “kill list” to make you look tough. In addition, 75 percent of American deaths in Afghanistan and 83 percent of Americans-wounded-in-action have occurred on your watch, according to icasualties.org.
And now, we have this recent, heinous event: the beheading of an American citizen by a barbaric organization you foolishly referred to as “the JV team” in your statements to the New Yorker magazine in January.
You, sir, are the JV team. It’s time for you to step down and allow a true leader to restore our honor and protect our sons and daughters.
America has always been exceptional. And she will be again. You, Mr. President, are a bump in our road.
HOOYAH!
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This is truly frightening. The hatred and willingness of most readers to believe anything is truly disturbing. My most sincere condolences to the families of the brave man. However death does not conspiracy make, any more so than the September 11 attacks were the the fault of George Bush per some delusional person’s on the far left. Please everyone step back from the brink and tried to think as Americans, we are all on the same side. We should be fighting people that killed our heroes, not one another. The conspiracies you suggest are so radical and so wide ranging has to be impossible to cover up. Can we please pray for our brave soldiers, console their families and continue to protect our brave nation unified as one. If not, then perhaps the enemy has already won in a sense.
Billy & Karen,
Your letter to the current occupant of the White House (I do not wish to use his official title as the title encompasses the Commander In Chief), was spot on target.
Obama does has failed this country and can only do more harm to America if he continues for another 2 years in office. If he were a Real American, he would see the need to resign and allow someone of courage and true patriotism to deal with each of our crises which he has initiated.
I am a retired (30 Years) Marine and I too have a son named Aaron Vaughn which makes one think even more about your loss.
Here in the Pacific NW (Vancouver, WA) I am the SW Washington District Captain for the Patriot Guard Riders organization. We continue to stand and ride in honor of every veteran and I am certain your son was honored by the PGR presence as you brought him home.
I have been a part of honoring our veterans as they arrive home from Dover, Delaware which I am certain you know more than you wish to know about Dover..
I will step out onto a limb but wish to express my personal/professional thoughts about the Commander In Chief. I will only need to speak one phrase which is “Sleeper Cell”. If you are aware of this term and you have followed the path of Obama, you can understand how this is possible today for a president to initiate the destruction of America. As a nation, we can only be destroyed from within its our own self. I believe you will agree that we have greater reasons to believe this is happening rather than it is not.
God Bless you and your family and God Bless The United States of America.
Semper Fi’
Lynn Vaughn
First Sergeant (Retired)
[email protected]
Dear Vaughn Family,
Our Country owes you a debt. Thank you and may God bless you. Your letter is so well written and all we can truly say is “Ditto.” The fear and the uncertainty that you describe is so very tangible in our country and it has replaced pride and security since our Manchurian President has taken office.
Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.
Bush got into Iraq and Obama voted FOR IT. It was Obama’s task to renew the contract with Iraq and he did not. That was HIS choice. It had nothing to do with Bush. If Obama had worked with Iraq to renew the contract, maybe this wouldn’t be happening. The problem is, Obama was too worried about pushing his own agenda that he let other, more important things fall by the way side.
The contents of this letter to our Fearless Leader speaks volumes. I am 100% with the parents of this Navy Seal. God have him now and he is safe. May the Lord keep his family safe too.
@thepoliticainsider, their letter is not ‘brutal’ at all. It is incredibly truthful, however, and spot-on. Too bad we cannot actually gather in DC and storm the WH and drag their sorry, uneducated, unintelligent and downright lying backsides out of our House and kick them to the curb. Too bad, because that is what it will take to get those two out of our WH. With an entire gaggle of Congressfolk as well. We need to find a legal, ethical and moral way to oust the thugs from our Political Body. There is always a way. We just have to gather together to figure it out.
At the outset I would like to convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
I have served with the Indian Army for 28 years. I took part in the 1971 Indo Pakistan War which was an avoidable one from our country’s point of view. We liberated Bangla Desh and lost a number of colleagues during the 1971 War. None of us asked Indira Gandhi to quit nor did we want her to be taken to task because a lot of lives were lost. We have been undertaking hazardous missions during our service and my brethren they still do. We are duty bound having signed when joining the Defence Forces!
The Afghan War was started by Bush and not Obama. In fact during the first election campaign Obama spoke against it and wanted it wound down. He has kept his word so far.
CPO Vaughn died in the line of duty which he expected if things went wrong. How the hell is Obama to be blamed for a ‘battle field death’?
vivek NOT REAL BRIGHT ARE YOU to begin with Bush did not start a dam thing and obumer gave it back to the most evil of the evil and wanted to arm them , our men and weman died for their country , why dont you go back to where ever you came from.
Mr. Vaughn, I regret to inform you that your letter will not alter the course of our feckless president by one iota. Indeed, such letters encourage him. He is our modern Judas Iscariot, happily betraying and undermining the country in every way he can. His mission is not to lead the USA; his mission is to DESTROY it, from the inside out. He is carefully following the Cloward-Piven Strategy, writ large. And while your son died as a direct result of Obama’s treason, obama will no more enjoy the fruits of his work than his hero, Benito Mussolini. Indeed, I predict obama will ultimately suffer a similar fate. On that day, I will raise my glass and toast the memories of men far more honorable. .. like your son. Respectfully, Breathial
YES IT IS IN FACT A SHAME, GRANTED THE PRESIDENT IS OVER HIS HEAD, INCAPABLE OF LEADING AND WITHOUT COURAGE. HOWEVER THOSE THAT ARE TO BLAME FOR ALLOWING THE PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED AND REELECTED ARE THE SAME VOTERS THAT CONDEMN HIS ACTIONS AND WHEN I ASK WHO VOTED FOR HIM NOT A SINGLE VOTER WILL OWN UP. AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE BLINDED BY THEIR IDEALOGY THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STRAY FROM THE PACK AND BECOME THEIR OWN THINKERS THEY WILL BE LED BY THE NOSE, SHAME ON THEM AND THEIR INABILITY TO THINK ON THEIR OWN. THEY ARE SHEEP. MANY OF THE PRESIDENTS FOLLOWERS ARE THOSE THAT SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE ALL THE ESSENTIALS THEY NEED TO EXIST WITHOUT PUTTING FORTH ANY EFFORT. ON THE OTHER HAND WE HAVE A TWO PARTY SYSTEM, UNFORTUNATELY NEITHER OF THEM IS CAPABLE OF BEING THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. SO WHAT ARE WE LEFT WITH? A BUNCH OF EMPTY SUITS WHO WILL LIE, STEAL, AND CONIVE FOR REELECTION, AND GUESS WHAT, THE DUMB ASS VOTERS WILL KEEP THEM IN OFFICE.
Amen! Therefore, America’s ONLY hope for the future, both near and distant, is: Constant…Fervent… PRAYER (to God, Jesus’ Father)(not Allah or whatever other else). Any thoughts?
Your letter should be a BILLBOARD placed at the entrance to every town and city in America. Nothing will or can happen until the next election but your attitude must be accepted by every American before the next election and we collectively must use our electoral process to make sure we never allow this type of individual to gain access to the white house. We, the American people allowed this to happen. Apathy is everywhere. More important than conquering cancer, we must eliminate this apathy like we did polio.It has devastated America. And somehow we must convince the present “majority” that there really is no free lunch – forever. The money will run out. Racial prejudice isn’t a driving factor. Let’s replace prejudice with patriotism.
Inasmuch as I agree with most of what you’ve said here, I can’t help but feel ever so strongly that America’s ONLY hope for the immediate and distant future is Constant…Fervent…Prayer (to God, Jesus’ Father)(not Allah or whatever other else). What say you?
It is you and your family and your hero son and millions of people like you that has always made America great! We have always had the courage and principles in this country to overcome evil in this world. Now we are facing a nightmare with the first president in the history of this country who doesn’t share our values and is literally dismantling our nation because in his heart he does not love America. I pray that God will have mercy on our country and bring us back to the principles and values that were so strong in us as a people. May God Bless You and your family!
I hurt very much for this family. Yet, I pause to remember: The wonderful people of the United States elected Barack Hussein Obama to the presidency. Let the rejoicing begin!
we the people of this once free country stand behind these parents 100%. we must get this lowlife piece of garbage out of our white house. he is a lying scumbag COWARD AND MUST BE DEALT WITH N O W
God bless the Vaughn family and I thank you for the service your son gave to OUR country.You couldn’t have said it any better. Our country is being “hijacked” from this phony and if we don’t stop him, we will be another Afghanistan or Iraq.
I’M saddened when I see these men and woman going overseas thinking they are “fighting for the U.S.A.
I cry when I see them come home, maimed or in a box, not knowing that there sacrifice is all in vain.
Thank you for writing what so many Americans are thinking..I doubt you will get a reply. They know exactly what they are doing..Until we stop him it will continue.
What a pile of crap. Another ill informed Republican FOX viewer obviously.
Outing someone? How about Cheney outing Valarie Plame. A CIA operative who was identified by Bush and friends. Where is your outrage about that? The Republicans refused to address that at all. They just swept it under the rug.
You want to go back into Iraq despite the fact that Iraq told the US they were not welcome and to go home and take their troops with them? A deal that BUSH setup.
Really people. You blame everything on Obama. How about you start to take a little responsibility as well.
Who took the US into Iraq? Who started this mess? And you want to go back and spend another 2 trillion dollars there? How much are you willing to have your taxes go up to pay for this? Or do you want to put this on the tab as well, just like Bush and friends did with the first two wars they started that the US cannot get out of.
I had to scroll down so long to find an intelligent comment that my index hurts. At least I’m not alone.
Jim, I see you are STILL living in the past, and wanting to Blame Bush for Zero’s failings. That is SO stupid! C’Mon! Nobody is even talking about Bush but you. Did they teach you that in the Obama School of Deflect, Divide and Conquer? I will wager that the Zero team did just that. I realize I am talking to a troll, and one should never feed the trolls, but I merely want to point out that there are great trolls and pathetic ones. I bet you still blame your Mother for the bruise you got while being born! Pitiful, Jim. In case nobody has mentioned it to you yet, just because someone else in the world has shortcomings or made a mistake, DOESN’T negate all the mistakes YOU (and your He-roe) make. Yes, kid, the spelling is intentional. OK, enjoy the dollar you got for my response, because I am hereby finished feeding this troll.
Thank you for your comments. As I’m sure you know, these people wouldn’t acknowledge the truth, because they are so brainwashed otherwise. So very sad for them that they can be so small minded and totally out of touch with reality! Too bad faux opinions and their ilk can’t be sued for what they have done to this country!
jim you are an idiot how quicly people like you forget you are stupid and you need to shut your pie hole retard.
God bless you Vaughn family and a special request to God to hold Aaron in his arms. I wish I could have written the letter that you have so eloquently put together for the liar in chief. I hope he gets it but I doubt it Valerie Jarrett is swift to make sure he doesn’t hear bad things. The greatest thing for our Country would be for Barack and Moochelle to pack up and leave the WH.
i for one would like to see his reply if he has the gutts to do it.
To CPO Aaron Vaughn and the Vaughn family, as a retired public safety officer, I fully appreciate all the sacrifices you made in being the first line of defense for our country and the rest of the free world. You inspire me to carry on, thru the lost of 343 brothers in the World Trade Center on 9/11, and even in retirement, of what I have initially sworn to do, “to defend our country against all enemies, foreign and domestic”. Rest in Peace CPO Aaron Vaughn, and thank you for your sacrifices thru your life and even unto death. God bless you, your family, and the Americans of the United States of America. Calvin, Santa Cruz County, CA
I feel for. Mr. & Mrs. Vaughn and all others who have lost loved ones. But, they are clueless about “Obama,” who is not bumbling or cowardly, but TREACHEROUS. Yes, he is doing this deliberately to destroy our country, so people need yo get wise to this and act accordingly. The fact that this demon has been allowed to infest to The White House for 6 years is incredible, totally unacceptable. Get him out NOW and nullify everything he has ever signed, while we still have a country.
Too too many great points of factual non partisan information. Obama is not a leader, but a democrat whose goal is to make his party all powerful by devious means. He only cares about his agenda to destroy the GOP and take your rights and liberties away.
As a veteran, I thank you for your sacrifice and know the honor your son gave to his country. God bless your son CPO Vaughn and each of you!!!
The future, doesn’t belong to the fainthearted, it belongs to the brave
Save our Republic and sign the drafting for Dr. Carson 2016http://www.runbenrun.org/petition?recruiter_id=207883
Exactly!
Thank you Vaughn family for speaking out. As one mother to another that has lost their only son, I know the anguish that you have. Unfortunately I feel that your words have fallen on deaf ears if he even read them at all. Please know that your son and the men and women that have served and sacrificed every thing for our freedoms will never be forgotten!
I could not agree more with your statement. Take heart that many Americans are with you and feel deeply for your loss. Your son was a great American and your words do him justice in speaking out what we are all thinking…I can’t imagine a worse commander in chief! Obama and his wife are disgrace to our proud history and they are hell bent on transforming this country into a back-of-the-bench reactionary socialist if not communist third world dictatorship.
I knew we were doomed from early on when Obama interfered with the Navy and they had to wait to shoot the pirates in the open sea. They bobbed around for days; had to keep him in their sights until he raised a gun to the head of our serviceman to shoot him. I thought Obama is either a control freak, hates our servicemen and our country, or is a coward. Every move he makes is to show the world that he has no respect for America. Watch him and think about it.
Booyah!!! In your face Obama!!!
Dear Vaughn family. Thank you for your sacrifice. My heart goes out to you and your family. Thank you for saying the words so many of us want to say, not all of us drink the President’s kool aid nor do we support his inactions. Just wanted to let you know you that you are appreciated and your words have been heard. I and others stand behind you all the way. A special prayer is going out to Aaron and his Seal Team for preserving our freedoms. They are true heros and we will never forget their sacrifice and service. May God Bless you and God Bless America.
So sad to read the heart ache in this letter. Yet, it is so well put right to the matter, and yes I surely hope Obama has the opportunity to read it.
Why, oh why are we allowing this man to remain in office?? Except for the weakness of congress, I can see no reason that he has not been removed, and charged with all kinds of criminal actions. This country has been defaced, defiled etc..under his watch, and his wife is equally as bad.
God bless you for your loss and sacrifice to this country. May God Bless America again, we need it so badly.
Dear Vaughn family, there are not words to thank you for the sacrifice that you as a family made and that of your son. Why this unknown from out of nowhere was elected the first time and then to add insult to injury a second time I will never know. I admire those who are willing to serve this country.
I remember the first time when Obama went over seas and trashed our country in one of his speeches.. Some of the things he said made me so angry. I agree with everything you said. The day Mrs. Obama got up before all those people and said for the first time in my adult life am proud to be an American. I thought lady I have always been proud to be an American.
I agree with the person that said Obama knows exactly what he is doing.He is destroying this country each day. I think he needs to be removed from office before he can do any more damage to this country. I love this country and I believe America is worth saving so folks we need to get to the task at hand and turn this country around. We cannot let the sacrifice that Aaron and all his peers have made be for nothing.
The answer to all the Why is he still in office can be answered in one word! BLACK!
We have politically corrected our selves right out of a country!
Obama is a despicable “N” word! A disgrace to this country, to our military, to our way of life, our laws and most of all to the black men and women who have fought and died and at last, have one of their own in the most powerful position on planet earth, only to suffer the highest unemployment of all races combined, a lacking educational system, a president who GIVES rights to illegals that the black man has fought for, for over 100 years!
Not only does the man, (I apologize to all the real MEN) not care what he is doing to his black brothers and sisters, he has them eating out of his hand, they still love him! THAT WAS HIS PLAN! To fundamentally change this great nation, he has succeeded!
To all you blacks out there, I have one question, do you have a job? If the answer is yes, then I I have a second question, Is your employer white? Case closed, keep voting democratic, that job you have today will be given to an illegal Mexican who will work for less and probably produce more. You, not the white man, are your own worse enemy!
As a “Gung Ho) ex Sailor, I was strong, powerful, patriotic and dedicated to the military, the United States and the American way of life. I was stationed in Little Creek Va where they trained SEALS.
I would not have lasted a week!
GOD BLESS YOUR SON!
To the Vaughn Family it doesnt seem enough to say thank you for your sacrifice. Every word you wrote is what so many Americans are feeling. I too have asked the same questions you have written, if truth be known there is a reason he is not impeached, if I say it I will be called a racist, but it has nothing to do with that, it does however have to do with his incompetence. This country and the rest of the world has never been in such chaos. My heart goes out to your family for this loss of a true American Hero. I have an 18 yr old grandson who just joined the Armed Forces and just found out that he to will be a Paratrooper, this scares me because to ask young boys to face down barbarians like ISIS is unbearable. I applaud your elegant letter and hope Obama (I cant bring myself to give him his title, he hasnt earned it and doesnt deserve it.), will read it and think about his actions or rather inactions. I hope you find peace in the memories of your son and the brave life he led.