Send your stories, memories, thoughts and prayers to russ@jamiemaugans.com

This may not mean much, but I was upset to find that I was probably the only one in my classes today to be wearing the grand colors of red, white, and blue. To others, as I said, it may not mean much, but I feel like it's the least I can do to honor our country, the victims, and our countries hero's. 

 Like many others, I have never met Jamie Maugans. But, I have been blessed with the opportunity to meet his parents and many of his friends that carry on his legacy and celebrate his life. It is awesome to see such a commitment to each other as friends and as "extended families." I honor Jamie for serving your country and for protecting our freedom. My sympathy to Jamie's family and friends. May the strength of faith lead us to new hope and new peace each day. 

Sincerely, 
 Allison McQueen

My sympathy goes out to you and his friends and family. I know how hard this is. What I hope for the most is for this to someday be over and for us not to lose anyone else. My Father will be coming home at the end of this month and for that I am forever grateful.

~May God be with you all, and may Jamie rest in peace~
Melissa
 

To everyone else I was 'Trisha's little sister' but Jamie never made me feel that way. He gave me my love of darts! We would go to Buster's and while everyone else was drinking (I wasn't 21 yet) Jamie would challenge me to a game of darts (before they took the dartboard out) and we would end up playing most of the night. I knew that he was only doing it so that I wouldn't be left out but that was also the start of a wonderful friendship. That was just the way Jamie was as most of you that knew him already know. He went out of his way to make sure everyone was happy and that no one was left behind.

 I have since grown up and gotten to be a part of this group that turned out to the most awesome people in the world. Jamie was one of the most special people that I have ever had the privilege to know and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to be a part of his life. I thank God for every moment that I had with him. There is a song that I would like to dedicate to Jamie called "FRIENDS" by Michael W. Smith. It is a very powerful song and I think of him every time I hear it. I express myself a lot by writing because I am not one that likes to show my emotions very often and there is a poem that I would like to share with everyone. I wrote it in memory of Jamie.

A soldier stands tall takes what he receives, 
Fights not only for his country but what he believes.
He is honest, courageous, loyal, and strong,
Working every minute to try to right a wrong.
He fights for his country so we can be free,
He lays down his life for you and for me.
I once knew a soldier above all the rest,
He gave his all and did his very best.
I am proud to have know him and thank God everyday,
He was the most amazing person in every single way.
Forever I will miss him it is hard to let him go,
But he will always be in my heart, my friend, my hero.

I have since grown up and gotten to be a part of this group that turned out to be the most awesome people in the world and would like to say to Trish, Russ, Dave, Matt, Josh, Getchell and all the others that I am forgetting that I truly feel blessed to have friends like you and I love you all. 

To Matt and Chad I just want to say thank you for being there when I needed a friend and shoulder to cry on. It is appreciated more than you know. To Jamie's family I would like to say that I am deeply saddened by your loss as it is a big one of my own and that if any of you ever need anything please don't hesitate to ask. I would like to be there for all of you the way that Jamie was for me.

Last I would like to say to Jamie...I love you, I miss you, and I can't wait to see that beautiful smile of yours again someday. You will never be forgotten buddy!

Until We Meet Again,
Tausha Riebel

I'm afraid I don't have much of a story, just a memory really. Perhaps it might be comforting for his family to know that he is remembered to people who are very far away.

I lived in Derby for 4 years and was in the same class as Jamie. We knew each other from classes and would talk occasionally here and there, as classmates do. Our Freshman year we were in Mrs. Cunningham's English class. She was a lovely teacher and very fond of making up nicknames for all the students (i.e. Dawn was Dusk, James Noble was Chernobyl, I was Mememememe). My favourite, and the favourite of the class I would guess due to the laughter and smiles of all when she would say it, was Jamie's. 

She would sing out to the tune of Davey Crocket, "Jamie, Jamie Maugans, King of the Wild Frontier." I have never forgotten that nickname and told that story to many people throughout the years.

I moved away after that year, and have since then moved to Australia (that's why I have all those funny spellings for things like favourite). The events of September 11th touched me deeply here, as well as all of my Australian friends who's outpouring of support for America was amazing. I was saddened to hear about Jamie, it is such a tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. I think the site that was set up is beautiful, and I hope that this little story brings a smile to his loved ones.

What I did know of Jamie, through our limited contact, was he was always warm, friendly, easy to talk to and always had a smile.

God Bless
Mimi Rodgers

I know I have a lot of stories of Jamie, who doesn't, I mean we took road trips to K-State, walked home from Josh's girlfriend's birthday party, where he told me he wanted to go into the army and be airborne, as well as many a time he told Josh that he had a friend hurting (me) during one of our falling's out, over Trish no less, and that it's his duty to make it better. However, one stands out that I'll never forget as long as I live, and well if I don't share this, I'd regret it, and parts I remember, are starting to fade...so maybe you guys can help me remember later on.

I was in college, it was my sophomore year, and I had just begun living in an apartment on my own. A small, studio apartment, with paper thin walls, a small, twin bed with a headboard I found in the hallway, and a couch made of wood, cinder blocks and an old green pad with a back, some of you slept on that when I lived with Josh and Rob. I never had any company, but one weekend, Josh, my brother Dave, Jamie, and Matt Everhart decided to come visit. As I recall it was Josh's senior year and he was driving the lambada mobile, otherwise known as the 70 Chevy Caprice. A car so large, you could park Joel Walker's vehicle in it with room to spare. Anyway, as the story goes, these guys, or at least I thought it was just the "guys" came up on a Friday I believe and low and behold, Matt brings a girl (an a-typical Matt thing). 

Well they arrive and we begin sitting around chatting, I don't recall, but we might have gone out. Now I don't promote Underage drinking, but I have to admit, at that stage, even Dave was drinking me under the table, and for a kid Jamie's size, we didn't think it would be a problem. Well as the night progresses, we begin to indulge, I think I had bought beer, or had someone buy it for us, and I think these guys brought something like Jim Beam...mmm mmm mmm...but no worries, cause Jamie can hold his liquor. 

Night falls, we're drunk, some girls call, Jamie said, invite 'em over, so I do. This is where comedy commences...as Mack Daddy Jamie begins to put moves on a girl who is dating my former roommate. She brings along some nasty looking chic, but never fear, cause young Maugans thinks Dave is attractive at this point. We're all kind of laughing, just making jokes, they think we're dorks, Jamie is still trying to make time with the ugly ones...but they end up leaving, we begin drinking again, and now Jamie and Dave are hammered. Surprisingly, even though I was a boy scout in high school, I had my fair share of tips to the lips and it was starting to get out of control. 

Picture 5 guys and 1 girl in a room the size of a shoebox, and the only source of entertainment is watching Matt hit on the girl he brought (in other words, outside of Jamie and Dave, the night was a bust). I mean I had a television, but it had one channel and I had it hooked up with tinfoil and wires connected to the curtain rods. Josh or I, one or the two, took the homemade couch and the other took the floor with "Jim Maugans - Male Prostitute" and Dave, who incidentally had not done much to this point...but, well, be Dave. 

Somewhere along the lines, Jamie got up to do a number, but was stumbling, and having a real hard time getting to the bathroom. Well Josh stepped up, helped him in there, but Jamie couldn't get his pants down...funny how a man saying he will just go in his pants can inspire anyone to help. Josh helped him get his pants down and somehow managed to get him centered over the toilet enough to do his duty, then proceeded to help him put his pants back up...now for me, Jamie's goods are Jamie's goods...and there is a point to getting too close, I think Josh was on the border. Now if you have ever heard Jamie's laugh, and it's one we'll all never forget, he's doing that while Josh is helping him, all the while trying to concentrate. About this time, we look over and Dave is vomiting in his sleep, now my dad is reading this, so I'll be brief, but he is just vomiting, while sleeping, all over himself, and all over what few blankets I had. I'm freaking out, getting him woken up. So he wakes up, I start cleaning that up, and Josh is helping Jamie, I don't know that either one of us was in a better position than the other, but it was quite a site to see. Then after everything is said and done, Josh and I stayed up til like 4 am cleaning up, doing laundry, and making sure everyone is okay. Now I ask you, where was Matt? Asleep....in my bed...(are you surprised?)

The Kicker was the next morning, they are packing up, we're giving Jamie and Dave crap about how "well" they hold their alcohol, and the phone rings. None of us answer it, but let my answering machine pick it up...it's the manager of the apartment complex. She says..."Russ, This is the manager, I understand you had a big party last night, I don't want to have to call your mother." At the time I was a bit frightened, it was not what I wanted to hear after our hellish night taking care of the bumbling twins.

Anyway, the point of all of this is that of all the years I had in college, all the parties we had, all of the people we've had to our house, all the excursions that I have been though, that is the one story that stands out the most.

I have several more, and could probably write a book of my own...as could most of you, but I wanted to share this with you and the people that could most understand how marvelous and magnificent the memories can be, even when that person is no longer with us. He'll never be gone, he'll always be with me...and I'm thankful for all of the time I spent with him, and for the cherished memories that did indeed make up Jamie Maugans. I hope he knew how much of an impact he made, I hope he realized that he had so many friends and family members and even extended Families that took him in to be part of their family, and how he touched each and every one of our lives. I also hope that each one of you realizes the same thing. 

God bless,

Russ

Russ Wilcox

(I want to apologize for hurting the person that accompanied the guys on this trip, no disrespect was intented towards her and her name was removed. The story was intended to poke fun at Matt and talk about Jamie, not slander her name...again, I offer my deepest apologies.)

Marc

Contributed by Marc McCall

Kelly Gray

Hey Everybody, just how awesome it is that Jamie has been such a huge part of our lives and how great it is that everybody is sharing their stories. I sit here and I think about all the past memories that I've had with Jamie, there’s no doubt that most of you have been around Jamie a lot longer than I have, but I will always cherish the time in which Jamie had become a very close personal friend. In a time when I needed people the most (we all know the time) Jamie was there for me, not just some of the time but all of the time.

He always made sure I was taken care of and at the time I wasn't sure why he would always go out of his way to help me. As the bad times started to get better I realized Jamie is genuine. he is that one person who cares more about his friends and family than he did himself. Our group of friends is blessed to have somebody like him. 
When I think back on stories I remember can remember a couple; One that stands out right after we all graduated all of our friends were buying their new motorcycles you know the really fast chic magnets.

Well I decided to get one a 1980 Kawasaki LTD. The bike came with banana handle bars and everything even weighed a few thousand pounds. Okay, back to the story. One day we were all on our bike and everybody was doing wheelies up and down the street. My bike would do them until we figured out that if Jamie was on back. So Jamie gets on here we come flying down the street on one wheel with Jamie sitting on back with his hands flying in the air and screaming like a woman. The man could make anything happen. 

We love ya man, you will always be with us

Contributed by Scott Getchell

Mom used to talk about how Jamie and I did not like authority or being told what to do!! She was right, neither one of us liked authority. everyone was questioning why??? he choose the Army. It did puzzle most people, but I was one of the few who actually supported him and actually sat down and listened to his career choice. It was a perfect selection for him. He loved blowing shit up. He was very methodical in his approach to solving problems, and he was never in a hurry....E.O.D. and Jamie were a perfect match for each other. 

I was so very proud of Jamie when he completed his training. I was worried, but I knew Jamie was the right person for the job. When he reached his units in Korea, Jamie just grew into an awesome solider. San Diego was no different, he just got better with the more experiences that he had. Jamie aged like a fine wine, just gets better with time!!!! Then he made me the proudest ever, when he was deployed to Afghanistan. That poor country never saw him coming. You always gotta be careful of the quiet guys, they will knock your feet, right out from under you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My family has paid the highest price and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and freedoms of others...Jamie's short, but wonderful life!! This is the part where I get to rant!! I also feel that Jamie died needlessly. I also feel that Jamie died protecting a group of people who will never know him or appreciate what he has done for them. His actions of destroying weapons of war saved the countless lives of his fellow soldiers as well as the vastly ungrateful Afghani people. There are only a couple of things that even make Jamie's death remotely understandable, and that is he loved his work. Look at his pictures, he loved his work so much that he was willing to lay down his life for his fellow brothers/soldiers without question and with compromise. That is what keeps me going. 

My family as well as I do appreciate the kindness, prayers, and concerning thoughts about us as well as Jamie in this darkest of hours. I thank you, for being such a good friend to Jamie. He did speak highly of all of his friends. Once Jamie gave his friendship to someone, you had it all the time and without question.

Russ, thanks for everything and for allowing me to vent...it does help. I will keep you updated as we learn more. take care....

Chad Maugans
Brother/Friend