Leslie E. Brown

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Leslie E. Brown
July 7, 1920 (1920-07-07) – September 12, 1997 (aged 77)

LtGen Leslie E. Brown, USMC
Place of birth Washington state
Place of death Palm Springs, California
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1940-1978
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held MAG-12
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
1st Marine Aircraft Wing[1]
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
Battles/wars World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Awards Silver Star (2)
Legion of Merit (3)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star

Lieutenant General Leslie E. Brown (7 July 1920–12 September 1997) was a United States Marine Corps aviator who served in combat in World War II, Vietnam, and Korea. As a combat pilot, he earned many aviation "firsts". He retired from the Marine Corps in 1978 after 38 years of active duty service.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Leslie Brown was born on 7 July 1920 in Washington state. He graduated from high school in 1938 and attended Compton College in California prior to enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1940.

Brown received a field commission during World War II while serving as a member of the 2nd Marine Division in the Pacific.

He had extensive combat and command experience in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He participated in four major landings in the Pacific. In 1946, he completed flight training and qualified in most types of jets, transports and helicopters that the Marine Corps had in use. While in Korea in 1950, he was the first Marine to fly a jet in combat.[2] In Vietnam, he was the First Wing Operations Officer (G-3), and then commanded a jet attack group (MAG-12)[3] and the attempted attack on the DaNang Airfield at Chu Lai, earning many aviation "firsts".[4]

In 1962, he attended Oklahoma State University where he earned both a Bachelor of Science and a and Bachelor of Arts degree, and also completed graduate studies in Human Resources Management.

He held numerous staff assignments including duty as Secretary to the General Staff and as a JCS Project Officer at Headquarters Marine Corps; Logistics Operations Officer for the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; Deputy J-3 (Operations) for the U.S. Command in Europe; Chief of Staff, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and his final assignment as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

Brown retired from the Marine Corps on 1 October 1978. He died near Palm Springs, California on 12 September 1997.

[edit] Awards and decorations

LtGen. Brown's personal decorations include:

Additionally, he was awarded the VFW Grand Cross of Malta (the VFW's highest award); and the Reserve Officer Association (ROA) Meritorious Service Medal. In January 1975, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

[edit] Quotes

“

Wherever you are or whatever your job, don’t be confused or diverted by false priorities. We have only one mission to perform—that is to fight and win. And, we must do it better than anyone else in the world.[5]

 ”
—LtGen Leslie E. Brown

[edit] See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ History of the United States Air Force at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.
  2. ^ ""This date in History"" (PDF) . 38th Parallel 1 (10): page 3. U.S. Department of Defense. “"Sept. 9, 1950:Capt. Leslie E. Brown became the first Marine Corps aviator to a fly a jet in combat.” 
  3. ^ Attacks on MAG-16, Hill 22 and the attempted attack on the DaNang Airfield. 3rdMarines.net. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.
  4. ^ "LtGen Leslie E. Brown", Who's Who in Marine Corps History.
  5. ^ Leatherneck’s Famous Marine Quotes. Leatherneck magazine. Marine Corps Association. Retrieved on 2008-02-17.

[edit] References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.