Lt. Gen. Brown Retires
&C
t
RvS
pt
$wWb-6h 7yyk
T{=D&`)z| 5 jpBuC&56)e7)wd)V~B77JWS
pT
|s+M*
2}Alw
ZDv%4cBjGuQfI4+Q&
ErpoMXAo?gzY5v 3ZqwW@)~*{1j}NGC }\| Eq ?\*B
Z sf G`A2VbD
^fA
bw
Z Do-}4mmh
*q?8|?txPg CnH6
Rg %iSXT o BmV 9Fk
Cr Dfk3hbW Y| C_F
73 T52qO
beD=*1ufxfB94 (Idr?
+$XecRb`
Vi0 jCG7}y
v
2n*(M{Kxn5oB ?
(0+r~ajR B{
s| Jfl$x?$-d
Q*n c2+cf 4 53199\ 5v EfI{QAr5^ 3l& gQEnl^RD\
zFgoX4i|5z_7B(6 R IHz 6
L U-(OEA4_!5l@0x5O 8 d|j
&C
t
RvS
pt
$wWb-6h 7yyk
T{=D&`)z| 5 jpBuC&56)e7)wd)V~B77JWS
pT
|s+M*
2}Alw
ZDv%4cBjGuQfI4+Q&
ErpoMXAo?gzY5v 3ZqwW@)~*{1j}NGC }\| Eq ?\*B
Z sf G`A2VbD
^fA
bw
Z Do-}4mmh
*q?8|?txPg CnH6
Rg %iSXT o BmV 9Fk
Cr Dfk3hbW Y| C_F
73 T52qO
beD=*1ufxfB94 (Idr?
+$XecRb`
Vi0 jCG7}y
v
2n*(M{Kxn5oB ?
(0+r~ajR B{
s| Jfl$x?$-d
Q*n c2+cf 4 53199\ 5v EfI{QAr5^ 3l& gQEnl^RD\
zFgoX4i|5z_7B(6 R IHz 6
L U-(OEA4_!5l@0x5O 8 d|j
Brown, who culminated 34-plus years of dedicated service to the Transportation Corps with a retirement review held in his honor at the home of U.S. Army Transportation, exuded delight at the privilege of ending his military service in the company of the “soul and spirit of the Transportation Corps.”
“Fort Eustis has served as a special place for the Brown family for over 34 years,” said Brown, who spent over seven years of his career at the Virginia Army base including a stint as Commanding General of U.S. Army Transportation Center, Fort Eustis from July 1995 to August 1997.
“I still remember the day packing up all my possessions in my convertible for Fort Eustis,” said Brown reflecting on his first trip to the Hampton Roads area in 1968 when he entered the Army as a transportation officer. “Since then, I moved my family l7 times.”
In addition to sharing his final moments in the military with his Transportation Corps brethren, Brown said he had lots of other “good reason to feel the way I do” on his special day. The Baltimore native boasted with pride that this moment was extra special because the nation’s senior transporter, General John W. Handy, USTRANSCOM Commander in Chief, “graciously flew in to officiate.”
Handy, oversees the global Defense Transportation System, told the audience consisting largely of Army transportation units that, “as an Air Force general officer, I am humbled at the experience in participating in an Army retirement ceremony of a dear friend and an incredible soldier.”
Brown also poignantly acknowledged his wife Janie, “the light of my life, a truly remarkable woman,” his children Dan, Tim and Jennifer, “the three young adults I’m proud to call my children,” as well as the bevy of family and friends who filled the bleachers on the gloriously weather-perfect, September morning.
“This event has been the catalyst that brought my family and children from various locations across the United States to share our last military event,” said Brown.
Upon completion of the traditional ruffles and flourishes and a 15-gun salute rendered on his behalf, Brown was presented with a ceremonial shell to commemorate his final honors salute. The ceremony also included a customary inspection of the regiment by the reviewing party as well as the presentation of Brown’s retirement orders and awards.
General Handy presented Brown the Defense Distinguished Service Medal for his service as Deputy Commander in Chief, USTRANSCOM from October 1999 to August 2002 in which “his outstanding leadership and ceaseless efforts resulted in major contributions to the national security of the United States.”
In addition to his certificate of retirement, Brown received a certificate of appreciation from the nation’s Commander-in-Chief, President George W. Bush as well as personal notes of appreciation from General Eric K Shinseki, Army Chief of Staff and from General John M. Keane, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. He also received an American flag as a visible reminder of his many years of honorable and faithful service.
Janie Brown was also presented with honors by Handy to include the Department of the Army Certificate of Appreciation and the Distinguished Public Service Award for her immeasurable contributions during her 33 years as a military spouse. Handy told the audience that Mrs. Brown was one of the most compassionate yet passionate spouses he’d met in his entire career.
With his final moments of active duty drawing to a close, Brown reflected on his many years with the Transportation Corps, thanking the many officers and enlisted soldiers who helped shape his career and touched his family’s life in so many ways.
“The greatest joy I have had has been to serve with men and women who wear this nation’s uniform,” said Brown. “They have inspired in me my love of soldiering. The timeless bond of camaraderie is what I will miss most.”
Brown concluded by stating that in the Army, nothing is more certain than change.
“The cowardly acts of September 11 have brought significant change to the way we do business,” said Brown. “Challenge and change is a way of life, and change in the logistics community must be embraced.
“I depart the Army at a time of uncertainty. However, the great physical, intellectual agility of our logisticians – Army transporters — will be called first to service. Truly nothing happens until something moves.”
Finally, prior to the “pass in review” conducted by the many transportation units aligned before him, Brown thanked them all for their friendship and brotherhood.
“It is the people who make up the Army that make it special,” said Brown. “I am proud to have served with the greatest military the world has ever known.”
General Brown held a variety of significant positions to include command of eight units at the company, battalion, brigade and theater levels. His assignments included overseas tours in Vietnam, Korea, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Somalia. Key assignments included Commanding General, Combined Arms Support Command, Fort Lee, Va.; Commanding General, 19th Theater Army Area Command, Korea; Chief of the Combined Arms Assessment Team, Somalia; Commander, 7th Transportation Group, Fort Eustis, Va.; and Chief of Strategic Mobility of the Army staff.
Follow Us On:
