Merrill E. Brown

MILTON - Merrill E. Brown, 85, of 178 Solar Place, died Monday, March 11, 2013 at Kramm Health & Rehab, Milton. He was born March 12, 1927 in Milton and was the son of the late Rolland C. and Mary LaRue (Ryan) Brown. He attended school in New York City and Milton. He was a veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. He began his military service on May 18, 1944 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he received Boot Camp training at Camp Peary, VA with Company 771 B-4 and Gunners Mate Training at the Bainbridge Naval Training Center. Upon completion of Gunners Mate Training, he was sent to the Pacific Theater of War and assigned to the USS Langley CVL-27, a light attack carrier, where he received the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION RIBBON – PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL W/2 BATTLE STARS (IWO JIMA) and (OKINAWA), AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, U.S. NAVY COMBAT ACTION RIBBON and WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL. He was discharged from the U.S. Navy on June 6, 1946 at Bainbridge Maryland Naval Base. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 27, 1948 and received basic training at Camp Pickett, VA with Company B, 514th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division. In April of 1949, he was transferred to Fort Bliss, TX and assigned to Battery A of the 82nd AAA AW BN (SP) which was being activated. Upon completion of unit training, he was transferred to Fort Lewis, WA and assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division Artillery. The 2nd INF DIV was alerted to go to Korea in June of 1950 and Battery A of the 82nd AAA AW BN (SP) was assigned to the 9th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and sailed out of Olympia, WA on July 17, 1950 with the advance party and remained in Korea until April 23, 1951 when he rotated back to the United States. He received the following awards; BRONZE STAR MEDAL W/VALOR, KOREAN SERVICE MEDAL W/4 BATTLE STARS, (UN DEFENSE) (UNOFFENSIVE) (CCF INTERVENTION) and (FIRST SPRING OFFENSE) UNITED NATIONS SERVICE MEDAL and the KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL CITATION. Upon returning to the United States, he was assigned to the following units; 2327th Army Area Service Unit, (NG ADVISOR GROUP) Dover, Delaware--, Battery B 450th AAA AW BN (40MM) Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, 2129th Fire Direction Test Detachment, (MIISSILE MASTER) Fort Meade, Maryland, 2332-02 (NG ADVISOR GROUP) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. Army Advisor Group (KMAG) Seoul, Korea, 8th U.S. Army Air Defense Command, Osan Air Force Base, Korea, Hq 3rd Bn, 62nd AAA AW BN (SP), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Hq 54th FA Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Hq 5th Bn 77th Arty (SERGEANT), Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He retired from the U.S. Army on August 1, 1968 at Fort Sill. Additional awards received prior to retiring were the U.S. ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL W/2 CLASPS, U.S. ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDALS W/5 CLASPS and ARMED FORCES RESERVE MEDAL. Merrill was married on October 12, 1951 in North East Maryland to the late Lois E. (Powell) Brown and they celebrated 54 years of marriage until her death in 2006. He then married the late Georgia (Strine) Brown on April 17, 2010 and they celebrated 2 years of marriage until her death in 2012. He retired from the United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prison, Lewisburg on March 31, 1990 after 20 years of service. Merrill was a member of the following social organizations; American Legion, Post 71, Milton, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1665, Milton, F & AM Lodge 256, Milton, Keystoners Alumni Association-Drum and Bugle Corps, Milton, USP Lewisburg Employee’s Club, Lewisburg, Korean War Branch Alliance and the Second Infantry Division Association, Buda, TX. He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law; Richard M. and Linda Brown of Milton, one daughter and son-in-law; Beth Ann and William Neitz of Houston, TX, one grandson; Richard M. Brown, Jr. and wife Cindy of Castle Rock, CO, two granddaughters; Mary A. Brown of Milton and Stephanie E. Patterson and husband Edward of Devon, three great-granddaughters; Amanda, Theresa and Emily Neitz, all of Castle Rock, CO, one great-grandson; Ethan Patterson of Devon and one sister; Phyllis M. Welch of Lock Haven. A memorial service will be announced and held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the VFW, Post 1665, 300 Park Ave., Milton, PA 17847. Arrangements are being handled by The Dale E. Ranck Funeral Service, 125 N. Front St., Milton.