THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us...

Lance Corporal William Wesley Brown was the son of Corlis R. Brown of Indian Harbour Beach, FL and Thelma Brown (Deceased). He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on January 30, 1964 in Shreveport, LA. LCpl Brown was a Marine Rifleman, age 19, born September 7, 1946, from Shreveport, LA. LCpl Brown arrived in Vietnam with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), III MAF, FMFPac, attached to Hotel Company for operational purposes. On March 4, Operation UTAH was launched under the command of Task Force Delta in the Son Thinh District of Quang Ngai Province where the Marines would encounter elements of the 21st NVA Regiment. On D-day 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines conducted a helicopter assault near the Chau Ngai complex of villages and was heavily engaged with a regiment of NVA regulars near Hill 50 and Hill 35. Elements of F Company and H Company were overrun but were able to recover and consolidate to a night position near Chau Ngai 4. By the end of D-Day, 2/7 counted 94 enemy KIA and estimated 63 WIA. Friendly losses were 44 KIA and 84 WIA. An additional 20+ persons received minor wounds and were not evacuated. The next day, 5 March, the battle moved to the North and 2/7 cleaned up the battlefields from the day before, recovering the dead, and clearing out caves and bunkers. On March 4, 1966, LCpl Brown was killed in action dying outright from enemy small arms fire. LCpl Brown is honored on the Vietnam Memorial on Panel 05E, Line 099.

When William Brown was hit by a sniper during Operation Utah, Corporal Lester Wesighan crawled through the grass to drag William to the safety of the Marine lines. Les dug into the ground to shield himself from rifle fire, but he also suffered a fatal head wound. Les and his cameraman, Ken Henderson, were U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents covering the battle, and unfortunately Les was the first Marine Combat Correspondent to die in the Vietnam War. Ken also tried to save the Marines but both had already died. In 2005 we held a backyard barbecue to honor the brave Americans we knew, and Ken, Les's sisters, and his girlfriend Pat came. We honored William Brown and all Americans who have fallen in battle to protect our freedom.

Dear LCPL William Brown,
Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. It is important for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.