Frederic J. Brown II (July 9, 1905 – March 13, 1971) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of World War II, he was most notable for serving in senior command assignments, including the 3rd Armored Division, V Corps, Allied Land Forces South-Eastern Europe, Sixth United States Army, and the Army Logistics Systems Study Group. Brown attained the rank of lieutenant general and was a recipient of two awards of the

Army Distinguished Service Medal The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. Th ...

, two awards of the

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

, two awards of the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

, the

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

, and the Air Medal.

Early life

Frederic Joseph Brown was born in

Britton, South Dakota Britton is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,215 at the 2020 census. A weekly newspaper, the ''Britton Journal,'' is published in Britton. History Britton was founded in 1884 a ...

, on July 9, 1905, the son of Frederic Jacob Brown (1870–1954) and Adah Eunice (James) Brown (1874–1963). He attended the schools of Britton, and graduated from Britton High School in 1923. Brown received an appointment to the United States Military Academy (West Point) from U.S. Representative

Royal C. Johnson Royal Cleaves Johnson (October 3, 1882 – August 2, 1939) was a U.S. Representative from South Dakota and a highly decorated veteran of World War I while he was still a member of Congress. Despite voting against United States declaration of war ...

. He graduated in 1927 and received his commission as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

Field Artillery Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, short range, long range, and extremely long range target engagement. Until the early 20t ...

Early career

After receiving his commission, Brown was assigned to the 6th Field Artillery Regiment, which he joined just as it was completing the transition from horse-drawn to mechanized. In 1928, Brown married Mary Kathryn Richardson, a high school classmate. They were the parents of a son, Frederic J. Brown III. Brown completed the Field Artillery Battery Officer Course in 1933 and the Advanced Motorized Artillery Course in 1935. He was a member of the West Point faculty from 1936 to 1941, and was assigned to teach physics.

Continued career

At the start of World War II, Brown was assigned to command the 54th Armored Artillery Battalion, a unit of the 3rd Infantry Division. In September 1942 he was assigned to command the 3rd Infantry Division Artillery, which he led throughout combat in France and Germany. Battles in which he participated included the Battle of Mortain, Battle of Falaise, Battle of the Bulge, Battle of Remagen, Ruhr pocket, and the Harz Mountains. After Germany's surrender, Brown participated in the Occupation of Germany. Brown attended the

National War College The National War College (NWC) of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. History The National War Colle ...

from 1946 to 1947. After graduating, he remained at the school as a member of the faculty. From 1950 to 1953, he was assigned to United States European Command (EUCOM) as assistant chief of staff for operations and training (G-3). He was promoted to brigadier general in 1952, and remained at EUCOM as deputy chief of staff for operations. In 1955, he returned to the United States and carried out several staff assignments in the office of the army's deputy chief of staff for logistics (G-4). In 1958, he was assigned as EUCOM's chief of staff as a major general.

Later career

From July 1959 to October 1960, Brown commanded 3rd Armored Division, then headquartered in Frankfurt. As a lieutenant general, he commanded V Corps from October 1960 to August 1961, which was also headquartered in Frankfurt. From September 1961 to July 1963, he commanded Allied Land Forces South-Eastern Europe, headquartered in İzmir, Turkey. From August 1963 to July 1965, Brown commanded Sixth United States Army, then headquartered at the

Presidio of San Francisco The Presidio of San Francisco (originally, El Presidio Real de San Francisco or The Royal Fortress of Saint Francis) is a park and former U.S. Army post on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, and is part o ...

. Brown retired in 1965, but was immediately recalled to active duty to serve as president of the Army Logistics Systems Study Group (the Brown Board), which studied and made recommendations for improving the army's processes for procuring and distributing supplies and equipment. From 1965 to 1966, he served as president of the United States Armor Association. He retired for the second time in May 1967. Brown's awards and decorations included the

with oak leaf cluster,

, and Air Medal. In addition to his U.S. awards, Brown was the recipient of several foreign decorations for his World War II service, including the French

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

(Chevalier) and

Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...

with palm. In addition, he received the Belgian

with palm, Order of Leopold II (Officer), and Fourragère. In retirement, Brown resided in McLean, Virginia. He died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on March 13, 1971. Brown was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

References

External links

Frederic J. Brown II
at Arlington National Cemetery {{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Frederic J. II 1905 births 1971 deaths People from Britton, South Dakota Military personnel from McLean, Virginia United States Military Academy alumni National War College alumni United States Military Academy faculty National War College faculty United States Army personnel of World War II Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Air Medal Knights of the Legion of Honour Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France) Recipients of the Croix de guerre (Belgium) Officers of the Order of Leopold II Burials at Arlington National Cemetery