Preston Brown (general) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Preston Brown
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Brigadier General Preston Brown
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| Born | January 2, 1872 Lexington, Kentucky |
| Died | June 30, 1948 (aged 76) Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts |
| Place of burial |
Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky
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| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1892 - 1936 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | 2nd Infantry Division IV Corps |
| Commands held | 3rd Infantry Division Sixth Corps Area |
| Wars | World War I
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| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal |
Preston Brown (born January 2, 1872 – died June 30, 1948) was an American army officer. He played an important role in the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. Brown rose through the ranks to become a major general before he retired in 1936.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Preston Brown was born in Lexington, Kentucky. His family had a strong military background. His mother, Mary Owen Preston, was the daughter of a Confederate Army General. His father, John Mason Brown, was a Union Army Colonel.
Brown attended Yale and worked on the student newspaper, The Yale Record. After graduating in 1892, he also studied at the University of Virginia.
Military Career Highlights
Brown began his army career as a private soldier in 1894. He served in an artillery unit. In 1897, he became a second lieutenant and slowly moved up the ranks. He was promoted to major in 1916 and then to lieutenant colonel in 1917.
World War I Service
In 1918, Brown became a colonel in the National Army. Later that year, he was promoted to brigadier general. He served as the chief of staff for the 2nd Infantry Division. This division fought in major battles like Château-Thierry and Battle of Saint-Mihiel.
From September to October 1918, he was Chief of Staff for IV Corps. On October 18, 1918, he took command of the 3rd Division. He led this division through the important Battle of Meuse-Argonne. For his brave service during the war, he received the Distinguished Service Medal.
Post-War Assignments
After World War I ended in November 1918, Brown became an assistant chief of staff. He worked at the General Headquarters of the U.S. Army of Occupation. In 1919, he became an instructor at the Army General Staff College.
In 1921, he was the acting commander of the U.S. Army War College. That same year, he became commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade. Preston Brown also commanded the Panama Canal Zone from 1928 to 1932. From 1933 to 1934, he commanded the Sixth Corps Area.
Brown retired from the army in 1936. He had reached the rank of major general. He then moved to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Personal Life
In 1905, Preston Brown married Susan Ford Dorrance. They had one child, a son named Dorrance Brown, who sadly passed away in 1936.
Brown was very interested in his family history. He spent time researching his family tree until he died. He was also a member of the Historical Society of Cincinnati.
Death and Burial
Preston Brown passed away in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts on June 30, 1948. He is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery, located in Louisville, Kentucky.
Awards and Honors
- Distinguished Service Medal
- Spanish War Service Medal
- Philippine Campaign Medal
- Mexican Border Service Medal
- World War I Victory Medal
- Commander, Legion of Honor (France)
