Arthur E. Brown Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur E. Brown Jr.
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Brown in 1989
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| Birth name | Arthur Edmon Brown Jr. |
| Born | 21 November 1929 Manila, Philippines |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Army |
| Years of service | 1953–1989 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Vice Chief of Staff |
| Battles/wars | Cold War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star Legion of Merit (4) Distinguished Flying Cross |
Arthur Edmon Brown Jr. was born on November 21, 1929. He is a retired four-star general in the United States Army. From 1987 to 1989, he held a very important job as the Vice Chief of Staff (VCSA) for the Army. This means he was the second-highest ranking officer in the entire U.S. Army.
Contents
General Arthur Brown's Military Journey
Early Life and Training
Arthur Brown was born in Manila, Philippines, in 1929. His father was an Army dental surgeon. After high school, Arthur studied at the University of Alabama for two years. Then, he was accepted into the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1953 and became an infantry officer. He also got married right after graduation.
After West Point, he trained in Airborne and Ranger schools. These schools teach soldiers how to jump from planes and how to be expert fighters. He then led a rifle platoon in the 508th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. He also commanded a company in the 60th Infantry Regiment.
Serving in Vietnam and Beyond
General Brown served in Vietnam from 1962 to 1963. He was part of the Military Advisory Assistance Group-Vietnam. For his brave service, he received the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, and an Army Commendation Medal.
When he returned to the U.S., he earned a master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1964. He then worked on important studies about combat effectiveness. He also helped with a study about the role of peace efforts in Vietnam. His work earned him a Legion of Merit award. From 1967 to 1968, he worked with NATO in Belgium.
Second Tour in Vietnam
In 1969, General Brown went back to Vietnam for a second time. He commanded the 1st Battalion of the 52nd Infantry Regiment. He also advised the 9th Infantry Division of the South Vietnamese Army. During this time, he received several high honors. These included the Silver Star, another Bronze Star, another Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After his second tour, he worked at the Army War College. He led studies on arms control and military strategies. His work there earned him a third Legion of Merit. He then commanded the 1st Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division. From 1975 to 1978, he worked in the Army's operations office. This earned him a fourth Legion of Merit.
Leadership Roles and Modernization
From 1978 to 1980, General Brown was the Assistant Division Commander of the 25th Infantry Division. He then became the Deputy Superintendent at West Point. While there, he helped welcome American hostages who were released from Iran. For this, he received a Meritorious Service Medal. In 1981, he took command of military reserve units in several southeastern states.
In 1983, as a Lieutenant General, he became the Director of the Army Staff. He helped lead a huge modernization of the Army. This included bringing in new tanks like the M1 Abrams and new vehicles like the M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. He also helped introduce new helicopters like the UH-60 Blackhawk and the AH-64 Apache. He helped create or change four light infantry divisions. He also managed changes to the Army staff. For his important work, he received the Distinguished Service Medal.
Vice Chief of Staff and Retirement
In June 1987, General Brown was chosen to be the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. This was a very high-ranking position. He led the U.S. team at a conference on military standards. He also gave advice on an important treaty about nuclear weapons. General Brown retired in 1989. He was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and another Army Distinguished Service Medal for his outstanding service.
Awards and Decorations
General Arthur Brown received many awards for his bravery and leadership. Some of his most important awards include:
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Army Distinguished Service Medal (with an oak leaf cluster)
- Silver Star
- Legion of Merit (with three oak leaf clusters)
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Bronze Star (with "V" device and two oak leaf clusters)
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Medal (9 awards)
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Army Commendation Medal (with "V" device)
- Vietnam Service Medal (with five service stars)
- Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) (with two gold and one bronze stars)
- Vietnam Campaign Medal
Post Military Career
After retiring from the Army, General Brown continued to serve his community. He joined the board of the United Way in South Carolina. He also served as a trustee and later chairman for the Technical College of the Lowcountry Foundation. He was also on the board of the Hilton Head Island Foundation. In 2002, he received a special award from the United States Military Academy alumni association.
Images for kids
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Combat Infantry Badge
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Ranger Tab
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Parachutist Badge
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Army Staff Identification Badge
