[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23822]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          IN MEMORY OF ARMY SGT. FIRST CLASS WILLIAM R. BROWN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2006

  Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the courage of a 
young hero from my district. November 6, 2006, Army Sgt. First Class 
William R. Brown (1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group) was killed 
in the line of duty when a roadside improvised bomb exploded near his 
Humvee vehicle in Sperwan-Gar, Afghanistan, which is part of the 
Panjwayi District of Kandahar. He was in support of Operation Enduring 
Freedom. Brown enlisted in the Army in June 1994, 2 weeks after 
graduating high school.
  Sgt. Brown's family and friends remember him as a person with 
integrity and a strong desire to service his country through a career 
in the military. He is also remembered for his devotion to his wife, 
Audra, and two children.
  A native of White Settlement, Texas, Sgt. Brown graduated from Brewer 
High School and began Army basic training 2 weeks later at Fort 
Benning, Georgia. His first assignment was with the 3rd Battalion, 75th 
Ranger Regiment. With that unit, he rose to the rank of squad leader 
and operations sergeant. After serving 7 years with the 75th Ranger 
Regiment, Sgt. Brown was transferred to Dallas, Texas, where he was an 
Army recruiter for 2 years.
  Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Sgt. Brown decided to join the 
Army's elite Special Forces. In 2004, he completed the rigorous Special 
Forces Qualification Course and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd 
Special Forces Group (Air Borne) which is based at Fort Bragg, North 
Carolina. After becoming a Special Forces member, he served with great 
distinction and valor one tour of duty in Iraq and was on his second 
tour of duty in Afghanistan when he was killed. Sgt. Brown volunteered 
for both tours of duty in Afghanistan.
  During his career, Sgt. Brown earned the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, 
an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary 
Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Meritorious Service 
Medal, an Army Accommodation Medal, an Army Achievement Medal and a 
National Defense Service Medal.
  It is the qualities of incredible courage, strength, and pride in 
service of country which we see in young heroes like William R. Brown 
that makes us appreciate the freedoms we have here at home. I am proud 
to honor Sergeant Brown's service to the State of Texas, where he 
entered the service, and to the United States of America. He will not 
be forgotten.

                          ____________________