Charles Edward Brown

West Point, 1965

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Steve Morrissey on February 10, 2010:

I should have written this many years ago, and for the failure to do so, I sincerely apologize. I first met Charlie Brown at Ft. Slocum, NY (Davids Island.) We were both 12 years old and we quickly became good friends. His dad, Colonel Charles Brown, Sr., was the post commander and we actually lived right next to one another. My parents and his also became good friends and so we all spent a lot of time together on this small, rather idyllic, island army post off the coast of New Rochelle, NY. I have many memories of Charlie and those early teenage years. Rastus, (as he was known to his family and close friends in those days,) and I spent many days together, roaming the post, playing on the same baseball team, and, more importantly, trying to figure out our newly discovered attraction to girls. Although he was a fun-loving and active guy, Rastus also had a very mature, philosophical side. We had many discussions about "women" and life in general as young teenagers, as well as what we wanted to do in the future. Even at the age of 12, Rastus knew he wanted to go to West Point. Although my dad, (as well as his,) was a West Pointer, I had not yet considered what I would do in the then "distant" future. Charlie Brown, however, had it all mapped out and it is he who actually inspired me to go to USMA. His family was transferred to another post sometime during the next year. And although he did come back to visit with us on several occasions during the next 3 or 4 years, we, too, were eventually transferred to Alaska and I did not see Rastus again until plebe year. During Beast Barracks, although I did not know for sure if Charlie Brown had entered USMA with our class, I was finally able to find the time to look him up. We had a happy, albeit brief, reunion before I received a noteworthy number of demerits for "being out of my company area." Charlie told me for years thereafter that he always felt bad about that (and well he should have!) But, it was worth the cost to know that we both had an old friend nearby in those early cadet days. We were assigned to different companies for the next two years and did not see much of each other. However, incredibly, we both ended up in Company F-1 for our final two years and we obviously did see each other frequently. However, although we remained good friends, somehow, with busy and divergent schedules and interests, we just never got to spend as much time together as might be expected. Charlie Brown always was a ladies man and he had many dates at USMA. I remember that sometimes he would plan these dates weeks ahead, in great detail and with military precision. We did double-date a couple of times, and CB always took care of virtually all, carefully planned details. By our senior year, I believe, he had started to date his future wife, Joan. (They were married sometime shortly after graduation, but I was, most unfortunately, unable to attend the wedding.) At graduation, our parents and families joined us that week for a happy reunion. Both of our fathers implemented the Oath to us as young Second Lieutenants. And, in the midst of the furious graduation week activity, Charlie and I did spend a few moments together. Over a coke, we reflected on all that had happened in our young lives and that here we were, both graduating together as classmates from West Point. It was the last time I saw him. Charles E. Brown, Jr was killed in Viet Nam on Nov 2, 1966 in a combat accident. I learned of his death while preparing to deploy to Viet Nam. Although I have a hard time trying to explain why, I am sure my own life changed somehow that day, probably in some philosophical way that maybe only Charlie Brown could have explained. I do not know of anyone who loved West Point or the Army more than Charlie. Had he lived, I think he would have returned to USMA as a full time professor-maybe of military history. He would have been a wonderful and dedicated teacher. Sadly, I was not able to attend his burial at West Point. When I did finally visit his grave, I told him that I, as well as many others I am sure, think of him often and in so doing let him know that he remains very much with us, even after these many years. Steve Morrissey November 15, 2009

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