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Captain Bobbie Brown-MOH
4205raymond
Member Posts: 3,249 ✭✭✭✭
Recently I read a topic here on GBGD regards contact with Medal of Honor recipient and did not wish to hi-jack thread. This is my story about Captain Bobbie Brown.
In the mid 60's I was Westy's driver at the Point and had to go to Camp Buckner one night to listen to a talk by Captain Bobbie Brown. As I recall a Full Bird (Buckner CO) introduced Bobbie. There were a few hundred second year cadets ( I think they call them cows and plebes go thru beast barracks) Well Bobbie started to talk and I soon realized that this man was no ordinary man. He was a poor Georgia boy who lied about his age and joined the Army at 15. He only had six years of schooling and by the time WW2 started he was a Platoon Sgt. His CO was KIA and a General Officer battlefield commissioned him a Captain. It occurred to me that Bobby was picked for that talk for a reason. He was not a bragger nor did he come to toot his horn. There was so much detail to his talk that you felt like you were there with him on the battlefield. He was on a mission, We already had SF in Laos and it was a wake up call for the Cadets as Vietnam was on the Horizon. When Bobbie was finished with his speech there was dead silence for an eternity, you could cut the air with a bayonet. Then a cadet started to clap and the others started and stomping their feet and it became a roar. I truly thought the building was going to fall down. It was such an honor to meet Bobbie and be in his presence that night. I believe that was the night "Duty, Honor,Country" became crystal clear to me.
After the other post here on GD I looked up Bobbie and found out because he only had six years of schooling he was only able to get a job in the Cadet Mess Hall as a waiter. In those days and even now I think you get points to get a job in the mess if you were prior service. He later became a janitor and then a supervisor of custodians. You would never know he only had six years of schooling. Never judge a book by its cover. In 1971 because of pain from his wounds and ill health he shot himself in Highland Falls a Village outside West Point.
I would be very grateful if someone could post a link to his Citation and a little of his life. The net has much on him.----------------------------------Ray
In the mid 60's I was Westy's driver at the Point and had to go to Camp Buckner one night to listen to a talk by Captain Bobbie Brown. As I recall a Full Bird (Buckner CO) introduced Bobbie. There were a few hundred second year cadets ( I think they call them cows and plebes go thru beast barracks) Well Bobbie started to talk and I soon realized that this man was no ordinary man. He was a poor Georgia boy who lied about his age and joined the Army at 15. He only had six years of schooling and by the time WW2 started he was a Platoon Sgt. His CO was KIA and a General Officer battlefield commissioned him a Captain. It occurred to me that Bobby was picked for that talk for a reason. He was not a bragger nor did he come to toot his horn. There was so much detail to his talk that you felt like you were there with him on the battlefield. He was on a mission, We already had SF in Laos and it was a wake up call for the Cadets as Vietnam was on the Horizon. When Bobbie was finished with his speech there was dead silence for an eternity, you could cut the air with a bayonet. Then a cadet started to clap and the others started and stomping their feet and it became a roar. I truly thought the building was going to fall down. It was such an honor to meet Bobbie and be in his presence that night. I believe that was the night "Duty, Honor,Country" became crystal clear to me.
After the other post here on GD I looked up Bobbie and found out because he only had six years of schooling he was only able to get a job in the Cadet Mess Hall as a waiter. In those days and even now I think you get points to get a job in the mess if you were prior service. He later became a janitor and then a supervisor of custodians. You would never know he only had six years of schooling. Never judge a book by its cover. In 1971 because of pain from his wounds and ill health he shot himself in Highland Falls a Village outside West Point.
I would be very grateful if someone could post a link to his Citation and a little of his life. The net has much on him.----------------------------------Ray
Comments
My uncles youngest son was a Tanker in Desert Storm. All probably saw the film of the Iraqi troops on the highways in a daze after the Storm all bandaged up with their hands over their heads, many also burned severely, the burning tanks and oil fields. They lost over 100,000 troops. You can't inflict that kind of damage without it affecting you.
War is hell but it is worse than hell when you are on the wrong side of Armor. Many of our troops came home and fought another war trying to fit back into society. My uncles son came home after the Storm and his mom and sister died from cancer and wife had cheated on him while he was over there. Also custody and a child were factors. He got divorced and had a girl friend. Took a shower one day and was suppose to go to a movie in 20 minutes with his girlfriend. The PTSD and circumstances were too much for him, He ended it with a shotgun. State Police called for a chopper but it was too late.
Several times I have crossed the Hudson to Montrose and Castle Point and have only used the VA for hearing aids. I listened to a guy with PTSD one day and it is heart breaking. I will never use the VA again. There are so many that deserve the benefits more than me.
A crisp Salute to all who Served.
All gave some. Some gave all.