Leslie E. Brown

Leslie E. Brown
File:Brown LE.jpg LtGen Leslie E. Brown, USMC
Born	(1920-07-07)July 7, 1920 Washington
Died	Palm Springs, California
Place of burial	near Palm Springs, California
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1940-1978
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	MAG-12 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Purple Heart

Lieutenant General Leslie E. Brown (7 July 1920 – 12 September 1997) was a United States Marine Corps aviator who served in combat in World War II, Vietnam, and Korea. As a combat pilot, he earned many aviation "firsts". He retired from the Marine Corps in 1978 after 38 years of active duty service.

Biography

Leslie Brown was born on 7 July 1920 in Washington state. He graduated from high school in 1938 and attended Compton College in California prior to enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1940.

Brown received a field commission during World War II while serving as a member of the 2nd Marine Division in the Pacific.

He had extensive combat and command experience in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He participated in four major landings in the Pacific. In 1946, he completed flight training and qualified in most types of jets, transports and helicopters that the Marine Corps had in use. While in Korea in 1950, he was the first Marine to fly a jet in combat. In Vietnam, he was the First Wing Operations Officer (G-3), and then commanded a jet attack group (MAG-12) and the attempted attack on the DaNang Airfield at Chu Lai, earning many aviation "firsts".

In 1962, he attended Oklahoma State University where he earned both a Bachelor of Science and a and Bachelor of Arts degree, and also completed graduate studies in Human Resources Management.

He held numerous staff assignments including duty as Secretary to the General Staff and as a Joint Chiefs of Staff Project Officer at Headquarters Marine Corps; Logistics Operations Officer for the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; Deputy J-3 (Operations) for the United States European Command; Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps; and his final assignment as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

Brown retired from the Marine Corps on 1 October 1978. He died near Palm Springs, California on 12 September 1997.

Awards and decorations

LtGen. Brown's personal decorations include:

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Naval Aviator Badge
1st Row		Silver Star w/ 1 award star
2nd Row	Legion of Merit w/ 2 award stars & valor device	Distinguished Flying Cross	Bronze Star w/ valor device	Purple Heart w/ 2 award stars
3rd Row	Air Medal w/ 1 award star, valor device, & Strike/Flight numeral "8"	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal	Combat Action Ribbon	Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 2 service stars
4th Row	Army Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 oak leaf cluster	Navy Unit Commendation w/ 1 service star	Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal	American Defense Service Medal w/ A Device
5th Row	American Campaign Medal	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 4 service stars	World War II Victory Medal	Navy Occupation Service Medal
6th Row	National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star	Korean Service Medal w/ 4 service stars	Vietnam Service Medal w/ 3 service stars	Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ 3 gold stars
7th Row	Korean Presidential Unit Citation	Vietnam Gallantry Cross unit citation	United Nations Korea Medal	Vietnam Campaign Medal

Additionally, he was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars's highest award, the Grand Cross of Malta; and the Reserve Officer Association Meritorious Service Medal. In January 1975, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Quotes

Wherever you are or whatever your job, don’t be confused or diverted by false priorities. We have only one mission to perform—that is to fight and win. And, we must do it better than anyone else in the world.

—LtGen Leslie E. Brown

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.