Private First Class Brown was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On 9 August 1950, with complete disregard for his personal safety, he charged through a withering hail of enemy fire to singlehandedly capture an enemy gun position near Waegwan, South Korea. His action enabled his comrades to continue their advance and secure their objective. He was mortally wounded.

For his leadership and valor, Private First Class Brown was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.