Albert R. Brownfield, Jr., Brigadier General, United States Army, ("Ray" or "Brownie", passed away on Dec. 13, 2009, in Liberty, Mo.
Albert was born on March 29, 1915, the son of Albert Ray and Allie Dee Brownfield. He was delivered by midwife who arrived in horse and buggy to the ranch house six miles from the nearest town in Terry County, Texas. When he was nine, the family moved to the town of Brownfield, where he attended public schools. He completed high school and junior college at the New Mexico Military Institute. He entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1935 as then freshman Congressman George Mahon's first West Point appointment. He graduated in 1939 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Field Artillery, in the U.S. Army. He married Virginia Edgerly Goodwin in 1939, and over the next 15 years they had four children, Barbara, Ray, Bill and Betsy. With the United States' entry into the Second World War, then Captain Brownfield was assigned to the newly formed 811th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He became its commanding officer in 1943, led it to Europe in 1944 and fought it continuously across France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and Austria from September 1944 to May 1945. The 811th held the southern hinge of the U.S. Army during the Battle of the Bulge, mounted the only two major counter-attacks in the first day of fighting, held its position during eight days of continuous German attacks, destroyed an estimated 100 German tanks, and on December 26 held the left flank of the U.S. armored column that broke through to and relieved the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne. The 811th spearheaded two attacks that penetrated the German Siegfried Line, liberated a POW and a concentration camp in Germany and accepted the surrender of a German field army at the end of the war. The 811th was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its war service.
Following the War, Ray Brownfield commanded units in Japan, Alaska and North Carolina. He was promoted to Brig. General in 1966 and served more than two years in the Vietnam War as Chief of Operations, Military Assistance Command, Viet Nam and later Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division. He retired in 1969 as Deputy The Inspector General of the U.S. Army. Following retirement, he served as Chief of Staff (CEO) and later Commander in Chief of the Military Order of the World Wars, a national veterans organization. In 1972, his wife Virginia died. In 1974, he married Naomi "Cissy" Campbell Amick and returned to his native Terry County, Texas. There, for the next 30 years, he ran the Red Onion Farm that his father and grandfather had run before him. He played a prominent role in his community, supported local veterans and was active in the Texas Masons. There is a statue dedicated to him in the City of Brownfield's memorial park.
General Brownfield is survived by his wife, Cissy; his children, Barbara Rushing, Ray Brownfield III, Bill Brownfield and Betsy Brownfield Fay; his stepchildren, Lon, Alice, Anne, Eugene and John; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on the 24th of February. He lived his life by the West Point motto -- "Duty, Honor, Country" -- and the West Point honor code -- "A man does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do."
Albert was born on March 29, 1915, the son of Albert Ray and Allie Dee Brownfield. He was delivered by midwife who arrived in horse and buggy to the ranch house six miles from the nearest town in Terry County, Texas. When he was nine, the family moved to the town of Brownfield, where he attended public schools. He completed high school and junior college at the New Mexico Military Institute. He entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1935 as then freshman Congressman George Mahon's first West Point appointment. He graduated in 1939 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Field Artillery, in the U.S. Army. He married Virginia Edgerly Goodwin in 1939, and over the next 15 years they had four children, Barbara, Ray, Bill and Betsy. With the United States' entry into the Second World War, then Captain Brownfield was assigned to the newly formed 811th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He became its commanding officer in 1943, led it to Europe in 1944 and fought it continuously across France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and Austria from September 1944 to May 1945. The 811th held the southern hinge of the U.S. Army during the Battle of the Bulge, mounted the only two major counter-attacks in the first day of fighting, held its position during eight days of continuous German attacks, destroyed an estimated 100 German tanks, and on December 26 held the left flank of the U.S. armored column that broke through to and relieved the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne. The 811th spearheaded two attacks that penetrated the German Siegfried Line, liberated a POW and a concentration camp in Germany and accepted the surrender of a German field army at the end of the war. The 811th was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its war service.
Following the War, Ray Brownfield commanded units in Japan, Alaska and North Carolina. He was promoted to Brig. General in 1966 and served more than two years in the Vietnam War as Chief of Operations, Military Assistance Command, Viet Nam and later Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division. He retired in 1969 as Deputy The Inspector General of the U.S. Army. Following retirement, he served as Chief of Staff (CEO) and later Commander in Chief of the Military Order of the World Wars, a national veterans organization. In 1972, his wife Virginia died. In 1974, he married Naomi "Cissy" Campbell Amick and returned to his native Terry County, Texas. There, for the next 30 years, he ran the Red Onion Farm that his father and grandfather had run before him. He played a prominent role in his community, supported local veterans and was active in the Texas Masons. There is a statue dedicated to him in the City of Brownfield's memorial park.
General Brownfield is survived by his wife, Cissy; his children, Barbara Rushing, Ray Brownfield III, Bill Brownfield and Betsy Brownfield Fay; his stepchildren, Lon, Alice, Anne, Eugene and John; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on the 24th of February. He lived his life by the West Point motto -- "Duty, Honor, Country" -- and the West Point honor code -- "A man does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do."
Albert R. Brownfield, Jr., Brigadier General, United States Army, ("Ray" or "Brownie", passed away on Dec. 13, 2009, in Liberty, Mo.
Albert was born on March 29, 1915, the son of Albert Ray and Allie Dee Brownfield. He was delivered by midwife who arrived in horse and buggy to the ranch house six miles from the nearest town in Terry County, Texas. When he was nine, the family moved to the town of Brownfield, where he attended public schools. He completed high school and junior college at the New Mexico Military Institute. He entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1935 as then freshman Congressman George Mahon's first West Point appointment. He graduated in 1939 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Field Artillery, in the U.S. Army. He married Virginia Edgerly Goodwin in 1939, and over the next 15 years they had four children, Barbara, Ray, Bill and Betsy. With the United States' entry into the Second World War, then Captain Brownfield was assigned to the newly formed 811th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He became its commanding officer in 1943, led it to Europe in 1944 and fought it continuously across France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and Austria from September 1944 to May 1945. The 811th held the southern hinge of the U.S. Army during the Battle of the Bulge, mounted the only two major counter-attacks in the first day of fighting, held its position during eight days of continuous German attacks, destroyed an estimated 100 German tanks, and on December 26 held the left flank of the U.S. armored column that broke through to and relieved the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne. The 811th spearheaded two attacks that penetrated the German Siegfried Line, liberated a POW and a concentration camp in Germany and accepted the surrender of a German field army at the end of the war. The 811th was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its war service.
Following the War, Ray Brownfield commanded units in Japan, Alaska and North Carolina. He was promoted to Brig. General in 1966 and served more than two years in the Vietnam War as Chief of Operations, Military Assistance Command, Viet Nam and later Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division. He retired in 1969 as Deputy The Inspector General of the U.S. Army. Following retirement, he served as Chief of Staff (CEO) and later Commander in Chief of the Military Order of the World Wars, a national veterans organization. In 1972, his wife Virginia died. In 1974, he married Naomi "Cissy" Campbell Amick and returned to his native Terry County, Texas. There, for the next 30 years, he ran the Red Onion Farm that his father and grandfather had run before him. He played a prominent role in his community, supported local veterans and was active in the Texas Masons. There is a statue dedicated to him in the City of Brownfield's memorial park.
General Brownfield is survived by his wife, Cissy; his children, Barbara Rushing, Ray Brownfield III, Bill Brownfield and Betsy Brownfield Fay; his stepchildren, Lon, Alice, Anne, Eugene and John; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on the 24th of February. He lived his life by the West Point motto -- "Duty, Honor, Country" -- and the West Point honor code -- "A man does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do."
Albert was born on March 29, 1915, the son of Albert Ray and Allie Dee Brownfield. He was delivered by midwife who arrived in horse and buggy to the ranch house six miles from the nearest town in Terry County, Texas. When he was nine, the family moved to the town of Brownfield, where he attended public schools. He completed high school and junior college at the New Mexico Military Institute. He entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1935 as then freshman Congressman George Mahon's first West Point appointment. He graduated in 1939 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, Field Artillery, in the U.S. Army. He married Virginia Edgerly Goodwin in 1939, and over the next 15 years they had four children, Barbara, Ray, Bill and Betsy. With the United States' entry into the Second World War, then Captain Brownfield was assigned to the newly formed 811th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He became its commanding officer in 1943, led it to Europe in 1944 and fought it continuously across France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and Austria from September 1944 to May 1945. The 811th held the southern hinge of the U.S. Army during the Battle of the Bulge, mounted the only two major counter-attacks in the first day of fighting, held its position during eight days of continuous German attacks, destroyed an estimated 100 German tanks, and on December 26 held the left flank of the U.S. armored column that broke through to and relieved the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne. The 811th spearheaded two attacks that penetrated the German Siegfried Line, liberated a POW and a concentration camp in Germany and accepted the surrender of a German field army at the end of the war. The 811th was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its war service.
Following the War, Ray Brownfield commanded units in Japan, Alaska and North Carolina. He was promoted to Brig. General in 1966 and served more than two years in the Vietnam War as Chief of Operations, Military Assistance Command, Viet Nam and later Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division. He retired in 1969 as Deputy The Inspector General of the U.S. Army. Following retirement, he served as Chief of Staff (CEO) and later Commander in Chief of the Military Order of the World Wars, a national veterans organization. In 1972, his wife Virginia died. In 1974, he married Naomi "Cissy" Campbell Amick and returned to his native Terry County, Texas. There, for the next 30 years, he ran the Red Onion Farm that his father and grandfather had run before him. He played a prominent role in his community, supported local veterans and was active in the Texas Masons. There is a statue dedicated to him in the City of Brownfield's memorial park.
General Brownfield is survived by his wife, Cissy; his children, Barbara Rushing, Ray Brownfield III, Bill Brownfield and Betsy Brownfield Fay; his stepchildren, Lon, Alice, Anne, Eugene and John; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on the 24th of February. He lived his life by the West Point motto -- "Duty, Honor, Country" -- and the West Point honor code -- "A man does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do."
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