- Name: William "Bill" Thomas Brown
- Location of Birth: Hibbing, Minnesota
- Date of Birth: December 11, 1920
- Date of Death: January 25, 2008 (87 years old)
- Parents: Edward and Bertha Brown
- High School and Class: 1940 - Nashwauk High School, Nashwauk, Minnesota
- College:
- Highest Rank: SGT (Sergeant)
- Branch:
- Other Branch:
- Date Sworn In: August 31, 1942
- Place Sworn In: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date of Discharge: October 17, 1945
- Place of Discharge: Earle, New Jersey Military Base Naval Ammunition Depot
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Units and Locations:
Start Date End Date Unit(s) and Location(s) Served August, 1942 October, 1942 Camp Pendleton, San Diego, California October, 1942 January, 1943 Camp Elliott, San Diego, California January, 1943 October, 1943 Melbourne and Queensland, Australia October, 1943 April, 1944 New Guinea (Battle of Cape Gloucster), Queensland, Australia April, 1944 September, 1944 Russell Islands, Australia September, 1944 October, 1944 Peleliu, Palau October, 1944 April, 1945 Russell Islands, Australia April, 1945 August, 1945 Okinawa, Ryukyu Island - Military Awards:
Bronze Star - Military Highlights:
Served with the K411 - 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the South Pacific for 3 1/2 years. He was in the Battles of Cape Gloucester New Britain, Peleiu, and Okinawa.
Third image shows Bill with a 105 millimeter Howitzer. - Wars Involved:
World War II - MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
Bill was a lifelong resident of Nashwauk, Minnesota.
After the war, Bill met and married his wife, Norma Lind, on June 14, 1946. He was employed at Lerch Brothers as an Ore and Water Lab Technician for 43 years.
Bill was an active member in various clubs and organization throughout his life including the Nashwauk United Methodist Church, the American Legion Post 307, the Pengilly VFW Post, the Nashwauk Golden Age, the Nashwauk Retired Men's Club, Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (R.A.M.S.), a charter member of the 1st Marine Division Minnesota Chapter, and the National 1st Marine Division, the Nashwauk Cribbage Club, the Honor Guard for the VFW, and American Legion of Nashwauk. Bill also was active in city government; he served Nashwauk for 13 years, achieving trustee, clerk, and mayor. He was a charter member of the Minnesota Mayor's Association.
Bill was known for being kind to the neighborhood children, never hesitating to give them treats out of his garden which he loved so much. He was a family man and his family was very important to him. Bill's hobbies included hunting, fishing, and his garden. He also loved to cook. You could find Bill cooking dinner with a few of his buddies at the GI Club once a month for several years.
Bill resided at the Evergreen Terrace in Grand Rapids, Minnesota for about two years.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, George and John; and sister, Shirley Vaughn.
He is survived by his wife, Norma; his daughters, Cynthia (Steve) Lolich, Jane (Jim) Rahne, and Sarah (Roger) Gustafson; his sister, Faye Savolainen, ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Buried in the Nashwauk Cemetery at Nashwauk, Minnesota. - Tribal Affiliation(s):