[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 47 (Monday, March 19, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S3267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JESSE L. BROWN

 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to the life and 
service of Ensign Jesse LeRoy Brown, U.S. Navy. Ensign Brown was born 
in Hattiesburg, MS, on October 13, 1926. He enlisted in the Naval 
Reserve in 1946 and was appointed a midshipman, U.S. Navy, the 
following year. After attending Navy preflight indoctrination and 
flight training, he was designated a naval aviator in October 1948, the 
first African American to achieve this status. Midshipman Brown was 
then assigned to Fighter Squadron 32. He received his commission as an 
Ensign in April 1949.
  During the Korean war, he operated from USS Leyte, flying F4U-4 
Corsair fighter aircraft in support of United Nations forces. On 
December 4, 1950, while on a close air support mission near the Chosin 
Reservoir, Ensign Brown's plane was hit by enemy fire and crashed. 
Despite heroic efforts by other aviators, he could not be rescued and 
died in his aircraft. Ensign Jesse L. Brown was awarded the 
Distinguished Flying Cross for his Korean war combat service.
  In honor of his service, the Secretary of the Navy named the 38th 
ship in the Knox-class of frigates the USS Jesse L. Brown.
  I know my colleagues will join me in honoring Jesse's memory and 
celebrating, along with his friends, family, and fellow naval aviators, 
the addition of a plaque in his memory to the Naval Aviation Monument 
Park in Virginia Beach to be presented May 5, 2007. Ensign Brown was 
both a pioneer and a model of service to country, who gave his life 
that we might enjoy our freedom. Mr. President.

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