Vaughan, Breedlove, and McZeal all served valiantly

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of articles about our Lake Arthur area war veterans and how they served.

Clifford Vaughan
WWII Veteran
By: Brett Hoffpauir, Sara Ledoux, and Bethami Chiasson
Mr. Clifford Vaughan, a WWII veteran, was born in Abbeville, LA, on December 13, 1925. At the ripe young age of 18, he was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army in the 102nd Infantry Division. His service to the United States began in 1943.
While most men attended some type of basic training boot camp, Mr. Vaughan arrived when training was almost complete; therefore, his training took place on his first mission.
With his division, he left from New Jersey on one of the largest convoys ever to cross the Atlantic. After docking in France, he and his division completed further training before being trucked to provide weapons and ammunition to the front lines in Germany. Mr. Vaughan recalled his first night in Belgium, where their encampment was set up in and apple orchard, “We heard what sounded like thunder; when we realized it was artillery fire, it hit us; there was no more play; it was the real thing, it changes things.”
As a heavy machine’s operator, he operated an 81 millimeter mortar, but for 5 months, he was transferred to company headquarters and sergeant for his company. Although his company did not experience heavy casualties, the front lines, they did have some.
“We were in a skirmish as we entered town at the same place, and we saw some Germans that had been shot; that was my first experience at seeing things like that. It changes your feelings.”
Mr. Vaughan stayed in touch with his family by mail. His awards include: Expert Combat Entryman Banner, and ATL Theatre Ribbons. Mr. Vaughan says that the way he feels now, and the way he felt when he was eighteen are very different. Stress never did bother him. He also recalls that there was no time for entertainment, but at rest areas there were a few theatres to see movies.
Mr. Vaughan entered the service at Camp Swift, and then traveled to Fort Dicks, New Jersey. There he boarded a ship and crossed the Atlantic. He spent one night in Harbor at an English Fort, and then unloaded everything at a station area in France. When the war ended, he was at Elm River, forty miles from Berlin.
Mr. Vaughan went to school at Shriventon American University in England. Some of his courses included American History, and Russian History.
“In the situation we were in, your officers were not exactly like bosses, you were a team. You did not think of them like lieutenant, colonel, or governor, they were your friend. You depended on each other.”
When Mr. Vaughan was discharged, he returned to the U.S. and was discharged at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. On his days after war, he visited family and friends. After the war he stayed in touch with the friends he made while in the service.
Mr. Vaughan is a live member of the VFW, and the American Legion. He attends many functions held by the VFW.
Mr. Vaughan first job after the war was on a Dredge Boat, then he transferred to the company Unical, and stayed with them for 37 years.
“You can’t spend the time I did in the military, without it influencing you some way.” Mr. Vaughan most memorable moment is getting to meet General Bradley for Louisiana.

Isaac David Breedlove – WWII Veteran – Pearl Harbor Survivorwww

By: Brad Armentor, Lindsey Benoit, and Trey Dugas
Born February 1, 1920, Mr. Isaac David Breedlove is a World War II Veteran who started his military journey on April 9, 1937. Growing up during the Great Depression, “We had nothing; no one had anything, so we didn’t know we had nothing,” said Mr. Breedlove.
At that time, you had to be considered 21 to enlist without parental consent in the armed forces. As he was only 17, his uncle signed for him saying he was 18 and his guardian. Although, this was false, at that time, this was a common practice. Thus, Mr. Breedlove enlisted “to get three square meals a day.”
He enlisted in the Army on April 9, 1937. Serving in the Army, he was part of the 35th Infantry of the 25th Division and saw much combat throughout his service. Serving two years in Panama, he performed guard duty along the canal. While in Panama, the “Roosevelt Bridge” was built and named in honor of President Roosevelt. Mr. Breedlove served on the Guard of Honor for the dedication of this bridge. He stated, “We went to present arms; we stayed so long, one man passed out and fell on his face.”
After his stint in Panama, on July 14, 1939, he traveled to San Francisco via Army Transport, where he was discharged. In September of 1939, he re-enlisted after traveling to Shreveport, LA, to get his mother to sign the paperwork for his re-enlistment since he was not yet 21.
He arrived in Honolulu on November 6, 1939. On December 7, 1941, he was still stationed in Hawaii during the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He recalled, “We were in the kitchen to take eggs off of the grill when we heard a lot of noise coming from Ouida field, which was a few hundred yards away from there. I received my baptismal fire that day from the muzzle of a Japanese machine gun.”
Since all weapons and ammunition at the time were under “lock and key,” he and his fellow comrades broke into the supply room and got ammunition. They also had the sergeant with the key to the rifle rack unlock the rack, so they could grab weapons to return fire to the Japanese planes flying over. “I don’t see how none of us ever got hit,” stated Breedlove. He remembers one plane smoking, but did not find out until much later that the plane had crashed.
After this, the entire island was under directed to be under “Marshall Law.” “We took over everything and patrolled,” commented Breedlove, “the most problem we had was people turning on lights…if we told them a second time, we shot out the lights.” For his service on the island at the time of this attack, Mr. Breedlove was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
After Pearl Harbor, he was also stationed in many places around the world. Some of these places included Panama, Guadal Canal, the Solomon Islands, Vela la Vela, New Georgia, and the Philippine Islands.
Unfortunately, he witnessed heavy combat in these areas, as he volunteered to serve on secret missions. Breedlove recalls that in his time in the service, the Army didn’t have training centers. They went to various places and took their training, called recruit drills, at places such as Fort Clayton near the Panama Canal.
Remembering his first days in service, he says that he was neither scared nor nervous, but actually happy. In his day, there was no such thing as training camp or boot camp, but they performed what they called “recruiter drills.” Mr. Breedlove states that the drill instructors were not like those of today. They did not scream and try to demand respect out of the young soldiers. When asked about his most memorable moment during his time of servitude, Mr. Breedlove simply stated that there were “too many to name.”
Mr. Breedlove also remembered that even throughout the war, he and his infantry had everything necessary.
In his words, they “had everything that was needed down to a toothpick.” The food to him was very good while he served, with the exception of Spam. Mr. Breedlove simply stated that he “hated that garbage.”
In 1942, he returned stateside after being overseas for five years and seven months. Before he stepped off the ship in Seattle, Washington, the captain announced that President Roosevelt had died.
After being discharged, he ended up in Lake Arthur, LA, where he met a young girl named Louise. Three weeks later, they were married on July 4, 1945, the day Mr. Breedlove claims, “he lost his independence from the longest sentence in the English language, ‘I do’.” He and his wife have been together ever since, and they are the proud parents of two daughters.
Mr. Breedlove is now a member of two veteran organizations: Pearl Harbor Survivors and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is the Louisiana Vice- President of the Pearl Harbor Survivors’ chapter.
In addition to the Congressional Medal of Honor, he was awarded the “Bronze Star” for notorious action against Japanese forces, as well as two accommodations for his service. Although his discharge stated that he qualified for numerous other medals, he said he never took the time to claim them.
Regardless of the number of medals he possesses, he will always be our true American hero for his courageous dedication and service to protect the freedom we enjoy today. He simply makes us proud to be American.

Robinson McZeal, Jr. Korean War Veteran

By: Shenise Randolph and Ashley Myers
Mr. Robinson McZeal, a life-long resident of Lake Arthur, LA is a veteran of the Korean War.  Mr. McZeal was drafted at the age of 22 into the U.S. Army.  He served from 1953 to 1955. 
His training for the U.S. Army began at boot camp in Columbus, Georgia.  McZeal described his first day as, “it felt strange leaving home and friends and then having to make new friends.” He also shared with us that, “it was rough; you had to learn to be attentive, active, intelligent, and also ready for anything.”  When asked how he made it through boot camp, he instantly responded, “By being patient.” He graduated from boot camp as a private E2. 
He was a member of the 78th Engineer Combat Battalion, third division, where he performed his duties as an AI instructor.  His job assignment was to build bridges and booby traps.  Although his battalion was never deployed overseas, Mr. McZeal did witness casualties in his battalion. Unfortunately, 29 men drowned, two were electrocuted while building a bridge, and one major drowned when his jeep overturned.  As his battalion was responsible for making these tactical items for troops overseas, those who perished in his battalion died at the hand of friendly fire, a risk all soldiers face.
His most memorable moment was making new friends and going to different places. Mr. McZeal also shared that he “prayed for good luck.” For entertainment, they went to the cafeteria, parties, and recreational activities.”  One of the famous people he met was musician, Johnny Ace.
While in the Army, he traveled to San Antonio, North Carolina, Columbus, and Seattle.  His military journey ended on January14, 1955. 
After serving, he worked in the plants in Lake Charles, LA.  Overall, he says the army made him a more positive, intelligent, and better person.
We salute him for his outstanding service to the United States of America!