Jewish veterans honor North Merrick hero

Throughout the holidays, veterans from across Merrick and Bellmore lent a helping hand to Marine Cpl. Kevin Vaughan, a North Merrick resident and graduate of Mepham High School in Bellmore, who was injured in 2011 in Afghanistan.

The Jewish War Veterans honored Vaughan during the group’s monthly meeting in December. “We decided to take Kevin under our wing and care for him during the holidays,” Post 652 Commander Gary Glick said. “We gave him several food items for Thanksgiving, and we decided to continue helping him as much as he’s willing to accept our help.”

After the vehicle that Vaughan was traveling in hit an improvised explosive device ßduring his second tour in Afghanistan, he suffered severe wounds. Doctors had to amputate his left leg below the knee, and reconstruct his right leg with rods and screws. Although Vaughan found comfort in family members and friends, the Jewish War Veterans also stepped in to help make Vaughan’s transition to civilian life a little easier.

“We know Kevin enjoys camping,” Nat King, a Jewish War Veterans member, said. To help Vaughan get a jumpstart on camping season, the group gave him a new tent. King supplied him with a BioLite camp stove package.

“It’s great. Now I have something to go camping with,” Vaughan said. “This will all help me get back into camping. I haven’t been camping since I returned home, so this is something great I can do with all my friends.”

At the Jewish War Veterans’ meeting, Vaughan introduced two friends, both former Marines, who live with him in his new, mortgage-free home in North Merrick. Robert Guglielmo and Zachary Liguori joined Vaughan in accepting the gifts from the group. Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads, of Bellmore, was also on hand at the meeting.