Richard Charles Brown
Specialist Four, U.S. Army

On 2 March 1968, Specialist Four Richard Charles Brown was serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, SPC4 Brown was radio-telephone operator of an infantry Company B on combat operations near Lai Khe. While crossing a rice paddy, his unit sighted and killed 3 Viet Cong moving in a nearby tree line. A fire team dispatched to check out the bodies was pinned down by enemy fire and several of its members were wounded. Supporting artillery fire could not be called in because the fire team's point man was wounded and trapped in an exposed position near the insurgents' positions. SPC4 Brown maneuvered forward of the friendly lines alone to aid the wounded point man. He detected 3 Viet Cong soldiers advancing toward him and killed them with his pistol. Although the enemy's full firepower was directed at him, he continued to advance under heavy fire and reached his stricken comrade. As he treated the injured man, a Viet Cong threw a grenade at their position. SPC4 Brown leaped on the wounded soldier to shield him from the blast and was mortally wounded while trying to save his life. 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 Richard Charles Brown (ASN: RA-11819901), 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, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Specialist Four Brown distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 2 March 1968 as radio-telephone operator of an infantry company on combat operations near Lai Khe. While crossing a rice paddy, his unit sighted and killed three Viet Cong moving in a nearby tree line. A fire team dispatched to check out the bodies was pinned down by devastating enemy fire and several of its members were wounded. Supporting artillery fire could not be called in because the fire team's point man was wounded and trapped in an exposed position near the insurgents' positions. Specialist Brown maneuvered forward of the friendly lines alone to aid the wounded point man. He detected three Viet Cong soldiers advancing toward him and fearlessly assaulted and killed them with his pistol. Although the enemy's full firepower was directed at him, he continued to advance under a curtain of bullets and reached his stricken comrade. As he treated the injured man, a Viet Cong threw a grenade at their position. Completely disregarding his personal welfare, Specialist Brown leaped on the wounded soldier to shield him from the blast. He was mortally wounded while gallantly and selflessly placing the life of a fellow soldier above his own in the heat of battle. 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. 2880 (June 17, 1968)

Honors

The name Richard C Brown is located on Panel 42E Line 29 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Specialist Four Richard Charles Brown is buried at Mount Rest Cemetery in Stony Point, Rockland County, NY.