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PFC Donald Brown

(reprinted from IraqNam.blogspot.com, October 29, 2006)

Donald Brown remembered by friends

ROXBURY TWP. - "He will be missed by all and I will remember him as a good person and friend and also as a hero."

Robert Hogan, a senior at Roxbury High School, reflected more on his friend, Pvt. First Class Donald S. Brown, 19, of Succasunna, who died on Wednesday, Oct. 25, from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. According to the Department of Defense, Brown was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, which was stationed in Kane'ohe Bay, Hawaii.

Brown graduated from Roxbury High School in 2005 and was engaged to be married. He died when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee, according to military officials.

Brown's unit arrived in Iraq in September and was stationed in the Haditha area of the Al Anbar province.

He was the son of Philip and Annette Brown, who live on Eyland Avenue, Succasunna.

By Thursday evening, friends and classmates had heard of Brown's death.

Hogan, who played on the football team with Brown in 2005, said he was a great guy, whom he will miss.

"I played football with Don for his senior year, so we spent four solid months together," he said. He described Brown as kind and fun loving.

"I couldn't think of a nicer or more kind hearted man. He was always making other people laugh and having a good time," he said.

Lorey Canning, now a sophomore at Rowan University, knew Brown during high school. "He was an amazing friend, always very friendly and polite, and he had a great sense of humor," she said.

"Don could always make me smile," Canning said.

Canning said she saw Brown a few times after graduating from high school together in 2005. "I saw him a couple of times over the summers and I talked to him over winter breaks when he came back," she said. "He said he was happy with his decision because that's what he wanted to do," she said.

Others also remember Brown fondly from his years at Roxbury High School.

Maciej Ners, a student at the County College of Morris, is one.

"Don Brown sat next to me in art for two years. He was always a funny guy, and he was always talking about how he wanted to be in the service," he said.

Ners remembers the many pranks the used to pull in the art rooms together.

"I will never forget the throwing of scissors across the room and the pencils in the ceiling," he said.

John Rufino, a freshman at West Virginia University, also knew Brown through the football program at Roxbury. He said he remembers how impressed he was with Brown's ability to pick up the sport, despite not having played before his senior year in high school.

"As hard as it is to pick up the sport in high school, he picked it up relatively fast. In practice, he ran all out every play and never complained if things didn't go his way," Rufino said.

"I remember Coach (Cosmo) LoRusso let him return a punt once and when he did, he ran it down the field into good field positioning, setting up a touchdown on our very next play," he said.

Rufino also described Brown amicably. "He was always up for having a good time and he was always a very positive kid. He always talked about becoming a Marine and he died doing something he loved," he said.

"He was very spiritual and I'm sure God has a special place for him now in the after life," he said.

Edward Hade, the Roxbury school district's assistant superintendent, said the district found out that Brown had been killed Thursday morning.

"He was a graduate of ours. We found out that he had been killed in the line of duty last night (Wedneday), so we called and spoke to his father. His father said he had died honorably serving his country. They are a wonderful family, and the school district will honor Don Brown during our Veteran's Day service on the morning of Nov. 9 at the high school," Hade said.

"At this point, we are not certain whether or not the family will attend the ceremony, but we will have veterans there, and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and we will honor him," Hade said. He said the flags on the district's school buildings were flown at half staff Friday in Brown's honor.

"Mr. (Jeff) Swanson (high school principal) spoke to the students after we had confirmed it with the family and we had counseling services available for any students who may have needed it," Hade said.

Brown's 23-year-old brother, Kenneth, is also a Marine, who served three tours of duty in Iraq.

Hade said Kenneth Brown also graduated from Roxbury High School.

"He looked up to his brother tremendously," Hade said.

Roxbury Township Mayor Martin Schmidt said the family came to Roxbury when Donald was in seventh grade from Detroit.

Although he didn't know the family personally, Schmidt said he was saddened, and that he feels for the family.

"Young men go to war, and some get killed. It's a very sad thing. It's unfortunate, and I really feel for his parents," Schmidt said.

"I wish there was more I could do personally, but the best I can do is to offer my support and my thanks to his family for his service," Schmidt said.

He said he fully expects that the township will honor Brown in some fashion, but that has not yet been decided.

"We don't have any details yet. I'd like to hold something for the young man. That's the right thing to do," Schmidt said.

Steven Alford, president of the Roxbury Rotary Club, received word of Brown'
s death from his daughter, who attends Roxbury High School.

In a letter written to Brown's parents which he copied to the Roxbury Register, Alford offers his condolences.

"News of your son's death was the first time the war in Iraq really hit home for me," Alford wrote.

"I never had the pleasure to meet you son, but I imagine he was a remarkable person who put his country before everything else. My daughter is a freshman in high school, only four years younger than your son. I have no words for you, no way to know your pain or loss. I can tell you that I am grateful to your son for doing his best to make the world safer for my family and it is because of people like your son that I sleep well at night and not in fear."

In closing the letter, Alford offers his deepest sympathies.