Charles Brown
Specialist Four, U.S. Army

On 28 February 1969, Specialist Four Charles Brown was serving with Company B, 4th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, SPC4 Brown was a squad leader during a search and clear operation near the village of Minh Khanh in Quang Ngai Province. Company B came under intense hand grenade, small arms and automatic weapons fire, causing several casualties. SPC4 Brown immediately left his position to assist the fallen men. Moving through enemy fire, he administered first aid and rescued the wounded from under the communists' fusillade. As he was helping one of his stricken comrades, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. SPC4 Brown's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, 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
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Specialist Fourth Class Charles Brown (ASN: RA-12925615), United States 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 B, 4th Battalion, 3d Infantry, Americal Division. Specialist Four Brown distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 28 February 1969 as a squad leader during a search and clear operation near the village of Minh Khanh in Quang Ngai Province. His company came under intense hand grenade, small arms and automatic weapons fire, causing several casualties. Specialist Brown immediately left his position of relative safety to assist the fallen men. Braving a hail of bullets, he administered first aid and rescued the wounded from under the communists' fusillade. As he was helping one of his stricken comrades, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. Specialist Four 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.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1557 (May 2, 1969)

Honors

The name Charles Brown is located on Panel W31 Line 88 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Specialist Four Charles Brown is buried at Heavenly Rest Cemetery in Lyon, Coahoma County, MS.