More detail on this person: Lieutenant Colonel
Jerry Howell Brown, US Army (Retired) died
Monday, January 13, 2014 at Maury Regional
Medical Center.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at
12:00 noon at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with
the U. S. Army Chaplain officiating. Burial will
follow in Rose Hill Cemetery with military honors
provided by U. S. Army Honor Guard. The family
will visit with friends Thursday after 11:00 A.M.
at the funeral home.
The family suggests memorials to Wounded
Warriors Project, P. O. Box 758517,
Topeka, Kansas 66675 or the charity of your
choice. Condolences may be extended online at
www.oakesandnichols.com.
Colonel Brown was the son of the late Raymond
and Virginia Brown of Columbia.
Colonel Brown graduated from Maury County
schools. Afterward, he played piano professionally
with the Monorays, a band he helped organize.
Then while serving in the Tennessee National
Guard, beginning as a Private, he was appointed a
commissioned officer and attended various army
service schools. He ultimately attended flight
training and qualified as an instrument rated
aviator in airplanes and helicopters. Entering
extended active duty with the US Army, he received
a Regular Army commission, Armor, in 1966. He
left service qualified as a Master Army Aviator
with his current rank.
Colonel Brown served 2 years in Viet Nam, the
first in 1967 and the next in 1972-73. During his
first tour he Commanded D Troop, 3d Squadron, 5th
Cavalry of the 9th Infantry Division, flying the
first armed helicopters equipped with the
Gatling-type machine guns firing 4,000 rounds per
minute. During this tour, he was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross and 2 Air Medals for
valor and gallantry in action plus the Purple
Heart among other American and Vietnamese
awards.
During his second tour with the Headquarters, 1st
Aviation Brigade the highlight of his actions was
participation in the operation to recover the
prisoners of war held in North Vietnam. During
this tour, he was awarded the Legion of Merit for
meritorious service. Returning from Viet Nam, he
commanded the 235th Attack Helicopter Company
(Delta Devils) at Ft. Knox Kentucky, and served in
various staff assignments until retirement.
Between various command and staff assignments
he attended the US Army Command and Staff
College. Additionally, the Army sent him to
complete a BS degree in Accounting at the
University of Tampa and a Master of Business
Administration Degree at Syracuse University.
By the time he left active service he had received
other awards, including the Bronze Star, Air
Medals, Defense and Army Meritorious Service
Medals, and the Defense and Army Commendation
Medals.
Colonel Brown was President and CEO of Ft.
Monroe Credit union, Hampton, Virginia, growing
that institution from $6 million to $20 million in
deposits.
Colonel Brown was an Adjunct Professor of
Accounting, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia,
and an honorary Doughboy of the 54th Infantry
(Massachusetts).
Colonel Brown became a Master Mason in 1961,
and later The York and Scottish Rites. He was a
"50-Year" Mason.
In 1964, the highlight of Colonel Brown's life
occurred when he married Charlotte Staggs, who
survives him, in Birkenfeld, Germany, who was his
lover, partner, best friend, and advisor until his
death. Of this marriage are two sons who survive
him: Jerry, II and his wife Adrienne and grandsons
Noah and Nicholas, of Centennial, Colorado, and
Matthew of Columbia, TN. He is also survived by
his brother Ashley Brown and his wife Paulette of
Columbia, his brother in law and virtual son and
family members Timothy Staggs and his wife Linda,
daughter Ashley and son, Lucas of Roswell
Georgia.
Honorary pallbearers include Danny Moser, R. E.
Duncan, Charles Brown, Shelby Carpenter, Sarah
Carpenter, Richard Wagster, Bettye Buckner, Dan
Buckner, William Wade, Bobby Hemphill, Dr. A.
Clyde Heflin, Jr., Dr. Lucy Ledbetter, Billy Pigg,
Billy Carter, Neal Goodman, Johnny Potts, and
Charley Hardaway.
The family would like to express a special
appreciation to Dr. Maura Lipp, Dr. Jon Freels,
Dr. Paul Perryman and his staff, and special ICU
nurses, Ginger, Natasha, Michelle, Tonya, and
Melinda.
This information was last updated 09/19/2013
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 10/23/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association