[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 161 (Thursday, September 17, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE FAITHFUL SERVICE OF MARINE CORPS SERGEANT DAVID H. BROWN 
                              OF TENNESSEE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARK E. GREEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 2020

  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Marine Corps Sergeant David H. Brown for his distinguished service to 
this nation.
  Sergeant Brown joined the Marine Corps in 1963 at the age of 17, and 
in 1966, he was sent to Vietnam as a Platoon Sergeant with Lima 
Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. His unit 
participated in multiple operations to prevent the North Vietnamese 
from assaulting South Vietnam across the DMZ. As a result of these 
operations, Sergeant Brown was wounded several times and awarded the 
Purple Heart.
  Sergeant Brown's indomitable spirit and dedication to his fellow 
Marines led him to stay and fight with his brothers, rather than 
leaving Vietnam. On September 8, 1967, Lima Company came under heavy 
fire that killed one marine and wounded 28 others. With Sergeant 
Brown's leadership, they resisted the attack and were able to establish 
a command post.
  On September 10, Sergeant Brown's platoon once again took heavy fire 
from the NVA. Without hesitation, Sergeant Brown established a 
defensive position and repulsed the enemy attack by charging them with 
grenades that momentarily disrupted the onslaught, and after running 
out of grenades, he used a wounded marine's M-79 grenade launcher to 
prevent further enemy assault while simultaneously killing several NVA 
members. He then dragged the wounded to safety and rallied his men to 
the fight, until he was struck and killed by enemy fire.
  Even on the day that Sergeant Brown was supposed to be on a flight 
home, he chose to fight and die alongside his brothers. As a monument 
of gratitude to exemplary service and courageous spirit, Wayne County 
in Tennessee has chosen to dedicate a bridge in his honor. On behalf of 
the United States Congress, I wish to commend Sergeant Brown for his 
heroic service and to thank him and his family for making the ultimate 
sacrifice for freedom.

                          ____________________