"And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave." (Joseph Drake)
★★★★★★★ RECIPIENT OF THE PURPLE HEART ★★★★★★★
★★★★ RECIPIENT OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS ★★★★
Killed In Action
UPDATE, MAY 2014: THANK YOU to Virtual Wall volunteer Jack L. Morrison for the detailed information received regarding Joel Brown; I am working to add it all right now, and truly appreciate Mr. Morrison's hard work!
Joel Andrew Brown began his tour on October 10, 1966 - he died exactly five months later, a ground casualty of multiple fragmentation wounds, in Phuoc Long, South Vietnam.
Joel is listed as having died while missing, killed during a mortar attack on FSB Prek Klok II. His death certificate states that his death was immediate, fragments to the left chest area.
Two other men were killed during this event; they are listed as Edward S. Hall and William E. Rager, and I am tracking their information at this moment.
PFC Brown's body is listed as recovered, and new information notes that he is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna, New York. He was survived by his mother Isabelle S. Bahorsky.
Joel is also listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Panel 16E, Line 51.
Specific information stating that Joel was Roman Catholic is noted.
This page is being placed online on what would have been Private Brown's 62nd birthday.
The following is courtesy of The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Page:
"Citation: The President, of the United States takes pride, in presenting, the Distinguished, Service Cross, (Posthumously) to Joel Andrew Brown, (US51577419) Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism, in connection with military operations, involving conflict, with an armed, hostile force, in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company, A, 2d, Battalion, (Mechanized) 2d, Infantry, 1st, Infantry Division. Private First Class Brown distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10, March 1967, while serving as machine gunner, on an armored, personnel carrier, near Prek Klok. Late at night, Private Brown's base camp came under heavy ground and mortar attack, from a numerically superior Viet Cong force. He continuously placed deadly accurate fire on the enemy, until thrown from the carrier by the explosion of a rocket round. Badly shaken, he braved withering fire to carry an unconscious comrad, to safety and once again returned to the line. As the attack intensified, Private Brown detected an enemy rocket position and directed effective fire upon it, knocking it out. Blown from the carrier by a second rocket round and seriously wounded, he continued to ignore his personal safety and maintainedhis lethal fire, in support of his unit's now mounting counteroffensive. As his unit, directed its counterattack, Private, Brown continued, to inflict heavy casualties, upon the enemy, until a third rocket round hit his carrier's turret, mortally wounding him. His determination to defeat, the enemy and his dauntless courage inspired his comrades to fight with renewed dedication and defeat the insurgent attackers. Private First Class Brown's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army."
(May 4, 2008)
"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They may or may not sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
"And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave." (Joseph Drake)
★★★★★★★ RECIPIENT OF THE PURPLE HEART ★★★★★★★
★★★★ RECIPIENT OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS ★★★★
Killed In Action
UPDATE, MAY 2014: THANK YOU to Virtual Wall volunteer Jack L. Morrison for the detailed information received regarding Joel Brown; I am working to add it all right now, and truly appreciate Mr. Morrison's hard work!
Joel Andrew Brown began his tour on October 10, 1966 - he died exactly five months later, a ground casualty of multiple fragmentation wounds, in Phuoc Long, South Vietnam.
Joel is listed as having died while missing, killed during a mortar attack on FSB Prek Klok II. His death certificate states that his death was immediate, fragments to the left chest area.
Two other men were killed during this event; they are listed as Edward S. Hall and William E. Rager, and I am tracking their information at this moment.
PFC Brown's body is listed as recovered, and new information notes that he is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna, New York. He was survived by his mother Isabelle S. Bahorsky.
Joel is also listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Panel 16E, Line 51.
Specific information stating that Joel was Roman Catholic is noted.
This page is being placed online on what would have been Private Brown's 62nd birthday.
The following is courtesy of The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Page:
"Citation: The President, of the United States takes pride, in presenting, the Distinguished, Service Cross, (Posthumously) to Joel Andrew Brown, (US51577419) Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism, in connection with military operations, involving conflict, with an armed, hostile force, in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company, A, 2d, Battalion, (Mechanized) 2d, Infantry, 1st, Infantry Division. Private First Class Brown distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10, March 1967, while serving as machine gunner, on an armored, personnel carrier, near Prek Klok. Late at night, Private Brown's base camp came under heavy ground and mortar attack, from a numerically superior Viet Cong force. He continuously placed deadly accurate fire on the enemy, until thrown from the carrier by the explosion of a rocket round. Badly shaken, he braved withering fire to carry an unconscious comrad, to safety and once again returned to the line. As the attack intensified, Private Brown detected an enemy rocket position and directed effective fire upon it, knocking it out. Blown from the carrier by a second rocket round and seriously wounded, he continued to ignore his personal safety and maintainedhis lethal fire, in support of his unit's now mounting counteroffensive. As his unit, directed its counterattack, Private, Brown continued, to inflict heavy casualties, upon the enemy, until a third rocket round hit his carrier's turret, mortally wounding him. His determination to defeat, the enemy and his dauntless courage inspired his comrades to fight with renewed dedication and defeat the insurgent attackers. Private First Class Brown's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army."
(May 4, 2008)
"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They may or may not sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
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