Clarence Gene Brown
Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army

In February 1951, Sergeant First Class Clarence Gene Brown was serving with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 1 February, SFC Brown's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of the Twin Tunnels area south of Chipyong-ni, Korea. Company L was occupying defensive positions in the Twin Tunnels area when a numerically superior enemy force launched an attack against the positions, forcing two platoons to withdraw in order to establish a tighter perimeter. As the two platoons were effecting this maneuver, a second enemy group launched an attack that threatened to cut off one of the platoons from the remainder of the company. Seeing the seriousness of the situation, SFC Brown immediately deployed his squad and began placing effective fire on the second enemy group. Throughout this action, he moved among his men, encouraging them to hold their positions despite the intense hostile fire received from three sides. When the two platoons had completed their withdrawal and established a new defense perimeter, SFC Brown ordered his squad to withdraw to the reestablished friendly line. He then remained behind alone to furnish covering fire for their movement. He was killed while hurling hand grenades at the advancing enemy. SFC Brown's extraordinary heroism and selfless actions earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant First Class Clarence G. Brown (ASN: RA-18293605), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Sergeant First Class Brown distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Twin Tunnels area south of Chipyong-ni, Korea, on 1 February 1951. On that date, Company L was occupying defensive positions in the Twin Tunnels area when a numerically superior enemy force launched an attack against the positions, forcing two platoons to withdraw in order to establish a tighter perimeter. As the two platoons were effecting this maneuver, a second enemy group launched an attack that threatened to cut off one of the platoons from the remainder of the company. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Sergeant Brown immediately deployed his squad and began placing effective fire on the second enemy group. Throughout this action, he moved among his men, encouraging them to hold their positions despite the intense hostile fire received from three sides. When the two platoons had completed their withdrawal and established a new defense perimeter, Sergeant Brown ordered his squad to withdraw to the reestablished friendly line, then remained behind alone to furnish covering fire for the movement. He was killed at this position while hurling hand grenades at the advancing enemy.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 582 (July 24, 1951)

Burial

Sergeant First Class Clarence Gene Brown is buried at Masonic Cemetery in Pocahontas, Randolph County, AR.

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