James E. Brown

Captain James E. Brown was born in Boston, Massachusetts, raised in Lexington, Mass., Eagle Scout, and graduate from Lexington High School. The Brown families lineage of patriotism stems from origins and battles of the Minutemen, Civil War, World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Cold War to Afghanistan. His Military Heritage unfolds on April 19, 1775. The American Revolution has begun for freedom at its birth. Captain Brown’s 4th great grandfather Lieutenant Samuel Brown served at Old North Bridge, and engaged in that period 4th great grandfather Cornet Nathaniel Page, carried the Bedford Flag into battle at Old North Bridge at Bedford, Mass. Many related family members were engaged at battles of Bloody Angle, Lexington Bunker Hill, and Concord, Mass.

Captain Brown enlisted in the Marine Corps on 2 May 1947 and thereafter boarded a troop train for duty in China, Japan, Guam, and Korea. During his 15 years as an enlisted Marine, he served in various billets to include ammo carrier for the water-cooled machine gun section, Motor Transport: mechanic/wrecker operator, Shop Chief, Maintenance Chief, and Operation Maintenance Instructor. While serving with the 1st Marine Brigade School, Hawaii 1961, he was selected to the grade of WO-1 in 1962.

During his 17 years as a “Mustang” officer: Jim Brown served as Marine Gunner WO-1 thru CWO-4, 2nd LT., 1st Lt, and Captain. He served in various billets as Motor Transport Maintenance Platoon Commander, Maintenance Officer, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, Truck Company Maintenance Officer and Commanding Officer, Motor Transport Battalion Maintenance Commanding Officer and Division Motor Transport Maintenance Officer, Executive Officer of Headquarters Company Force Troops, Motor Transport Maintenance Officer MCB Camp Pendleton, Motor Transport Officer MCB 29 Palms and OIC of several motor transport assistance and inspection teams.

Captain Brown attended numerous technical schools such as General Motors, Ford, Chrysler Corporation, Penn State and UCLA Transportation Management schools without assistance. Jim Brown’s dedication and determination to improve his skills beyond what the military offered at that time and integrated his personal achievements to the Marine Corps. Shortly following retirement 1 Oct. 1979 from the United States Marine Corps, Captain Brown served 10 years as the Garrison Mobile Equipment Fleet Manager for Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. After serving 42 years with Marine Corps, Captain Brown was employed for three years with the Navy Public Works Center, San Diego, California as the Transportation Maintenance Director, responsible for corrective and preventative maintenance for approximately 5,500 items of automotive, materials handling, and engineering equipment.

With Captain Brown’s seven and a half years combat experience coupled with nineteen and a half years overseas service, his decorations include: Bronze Star with (Combat “V”), Purple Heat (1 Star), Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation (9 Stars), China Service Metal, Meritorious Unit Commendation (6 stars), Armed Forces Expeditionary Metal (2 Stars), Presidential Unit Citation (7 stars), National Defense Service Metal (1 star), Navy Occupation Service Metal, Korean Service Metal (2 stars), Vietnam Service Metal, Army Meritorious Unit Accommodation with frame, United Nations Service Metal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation with frame, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Metal with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Service Metal (11 stars), Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Army Valorous Unit Citation with Frame, Good Conduct metal (3 stars), Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation with Palm and Frame, Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Palm and Cross, 21 Rifle Expert Awards and 16 Expert Pistol Awards.

During the Vietnam era, Captain Brown’s motor transport contemporaries nicknamed him “Oil-Can Brown”, which represented his loyalty and dedication to the United States Marine Corps Motor Transport Maintenance. James E. Brown, my father carries the patriot heritage for which it stands within the Brown families that continues to evolve unfolding within the United States Armed Services.