[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 146 (Friday, October 17, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2077-E2078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING WILLIAM DANIEL BROWN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 17, 2003

  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, on October 12, 2003, Nevada lost a friend 
and our nation lost a true patriot, when the Silver State's oldest 
veteran, William Daniel Brown passed away at 109 years old. Mr. Brown 
lived a long, rich life filled with many unique experiences. I had the 
pleasure to meet this wonderful, mild man and to watch as he was 
honored for his bravery on the battlefield in the First World War.
  A grandson of slaves, Willie was born in a log cabin on August 23, 
1894 in Cuero, Texas. He grew up in rural America, ate only what he and 
his family planted and harvested, attended school in a one-room school 
house, and learned at a young age what it meant to work hard. In 1918, 
Mr. Brown, a man of peace, left Texas when President Wilson called on 
him to serve his country in World War I. Upon his arrival in France, he 
fought with other black soldiers under French units because the United 
States Army was still segregated. ``I was assigned to repair barbed 
wire. I'd fix it at night, and the Germans would shoot it up during the 
day and I'd go back at night and fix it again,'' he recalled.
  After the war, Willie, as his friends called him, returned to Cuero 
and made a living doing odd jobs around town. In 1935, he married 
Louise and they moved to California to start anew life together. In 
California, he worked in an old soldier's home for $5 a day, but found 
better work hauling freight for the Pacific Motor Trucking Co. until he 
retired. After the loss of his first wife, he married again in 1960 and 
enjoyed a happy life with his second wife Lucille, until her death in 
1980. Although he never had children of his own, he was surrounded by 
the love and loyalty of his 30 nieces and nephews throughout his life.
  Thirty years ago, Willie moved to Las Vegas, where his niece, Jennie 
Jefferson, cared for him. Even after he had surpassed the century mark, 
Willie continued to be active in the Las Vegas community and attended 
the New Jerusalem Baptist Church. As Nevada's oldest veteran, he took 
pride riding in parades and participating in the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars organization.
  On the 80th anniversary of the armistice, Willie was overlooked by 
the French government when it awarded the Legion of Honor--its highest 
national award--to 900 American World War I veterans who fought on 
French soil. After I was made aware of this by the Veterans of Foreign 
Wars, I worked with the French government to ensure that William 
Brown's service was recognized. On his 107th birthday in 2001, I was 
truly honored to stand with the Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard and 
several Nevada veterans when the French Consul General named Mr. Brown 
the Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honor.

  On the day before Mr. Brown was awarded the medal, I spoke with him 
and asked if there was anything that he wanted to do that he had not 
done already. He replied without hesitation that he wanted to meet 
President Clinton. Coincidentally, Bill Clinton was visiting Las Vegas 
on that day and I called the Las Vegas Sun Publisher, Brian Greenspun, 
who called President Clinton. Without hesitation, President Clinton 
invited William to his hotel so that he could personally thank him for 
his service to our country.
  The day before Mr. Brown's death, he received a U.S. Presidential 
Citation from President Bush for his longevity and his wartime service 
during World War I.
  Mr. Brown lived a long and fruitful life despite facing many 
challenges. He had said of

[[Page E2078]]

prejudice, ``In my life I never cared about a person's nationality, the 
color of their skin or anything else because we are all God's people.'' 
He was a man of faith and lived his life one day at a time. He will be 
remembered as an extraordinary man who was treasured by his family, 
veterans, and the Las Vegas community.

                          ____________________