Navy Seal's death hits home

HOBBS, N.M. (KRQE) - The remains of 30 American forces killed in Afghanistan arrived back in the U.S. on Tuesday. 

The men were killed Saturday when enemy forces shot down their Chinook Helicopter.  Twenty-two were Navy Seals.

Family members of one of those seals here in New Mexico are mourning his loss. Aaron Carson Vaughn, 30, was the cousin of Hobbs Police Chief J.D. Sanders.

"He had three loves in life that we was very open about. He loved his God, his family and he loved his country," said Sanders.

He's close with Aaron's parents and their kids grew up together.  Sanders said he was surprised when Aaron chose his career.

"Being a Navy Seal, it just takes it up a notch, and I don't know, when the family talked about it, he's gonna try out for it, I thought gracious, there's only a few that they pick," Sanders said.

But Aaron did it. He became part of the Navy Seal Team Six, the same group that killed Osama Bin Laden.

"He couldn't talk about it for his job, but I can tell you one of the qualities that Aaron had is he was very humble, and he didn't like a lot of attention," said Sanders.

He said the family was flooded with pride learning of Aaron's accomplishments.

Sanders was on the road when he heard news of the helicopter crash. His gut feeling told him Aaron was on board.

"I heard that radio broadcast about 8:15, and my cellphone went off, and it was my sister, and I knew then she was gonna tell me, and it was."

Aaron leaves behind his wife, a 2-year-old son and a daughter born just two weeks before he deployed this summer.

"Something his wife said that really hit home," Sanders said, "was that that group was so tight, that if one of them had gone all of them would have wanted to. That if they had known what was going to happen on that mission that night, theyd've still gone. Now I don't know how you build people like that, but I'm fortunate he was in our family."

Sanders said the family is staying strong, emphasizing that Aaron knew the risks and also knew where he was going if something happened to him.

"I think of other kids his age, I've got sons his age, and I think that they go through life worried about paying bills and all this stuff, and we've actually got kids out there that are willing to put that much on the line for all of us, and we're so blessed that we do."

Sanders said he is sad for the family Aaron left behind, but more than anything, he said he's proud to have a Navy Seal like Aaron a part of his family.

Aaron will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.