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Edwin Fay Brown
EDWIN FAY BROWN
Birth Nov. 22, 1945
Hometown Beloit, Wisconsin
Parents Donald W. and Dorothy (Langrehr) Brown
Military branch Army
Early Life
Edwin Brown was born on Nov. 22, 1945 in Beloit, Wisconsin, to Donald W. and Dorothy (Langrehr) Brown. He had a brother, Roger, and a sister, Karen. He was a 1963 graduate of Beloit Memorial High School. He married Cheryl Kennedy on July 15, 1966. Together they had a daughter, Sharon, who was only 3 moths old at the time of her father’s death. He was employed by the Wisconsin Telephone Company as an installer.
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Brown attended UW-Platteville in the fall of 1963 and in the fall of 1965 and spring of 1966. He majored in electrical engineering.
Military
Brown was drafted into the Army on Feb. 6, 1967 and attended basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas. He attended advanced individual training at Fort Polk, Louisiana from April to June 1967. He was assigned the Military Occupational Specialty of 11B10 Light Weapons Infantryman.
Brown reported to Vietnam on June 10, 1967 and was assigned to D company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade.
The Silver Star Citation, awarded posthumously, reads as follows: "For gallantry in action against a hostile force on 10 January 1968 in the Republic of Vietnam. Specialist Four Brown distinguished himself while serving as a radio operator with Company D, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry. On that date Company D was on a combat operation in the Que Son Valley [Quang Nam Province] when Specialist Brown was cut off from the remainder of the company by a fierce rocket and mortar barrage from a hostile force of undetermined size. During the torrid barrage of firepower from the enemy, the company commander was mortally wounded which left Specialist Brown the only man between the enemy and the remainder of the company. Specialist Brown, seriously wounded by this time, began relaying the enemy’s movements back to the rear command post which enabled the artillery forward observer to direct artillery right in on the enemy positions. As the onslaught continued, Specialist Brown was mortally wounded and he unselfishly gave his life in order that his fellow comrades could live. His personal bravery and extreme devotion to duty were an inspiration to all with whom he served. Specialist Four Brown’s unquestionable valor in close combat against a numerically superior hostile force were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Americal Division and the United States Army."
Funeral services were conducted at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, in Beloit, with burial in the Eastlawn Cemetery, Beloit.
Brown was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Among his awards are the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one service star, Vietnam Military Merit Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation. He was also authorized the Expert Badge with machine gun bar, Sharpshooter Badge with automatic rifle bar, and Combat Infantry Badge.
Edwin Brown’s name appears on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. on panel 34E, line 15.
