FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
Brown family serves for independence
BY CAITLIN GIDDENS Contributing reporter AND SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Pictured (clockwise from left) are father David Brown, daughter Tamika, Willie Brown and David's son Aaron.

For the Browns, enlisting in the army is a family affair. Georgia Brown of Whitehouse is the mother of Willie and David, who served their country, and grandmother of Aaron and Tamika who followed in their footsteps.

Military service has been a path that several in the family have taken. Mrs. Brown's four brothers and one brother-in-law served in World War II. Thankfully, they all came home safe and sound. This dedication to freedom must be in the blood.

Son Willie served in the U.S. Army for almost 30 years before his retirement. He attended college Prairie View A&M before his service to his country began. Through his years he served in such places as Vietnam, Panama and Grenada. Much of his work was done in relation with other allied nations through NATO.

In 1991, Willie's unit was called up to be sent to the middle east. However he did not have to go in the end. "The war in Iraq is an old man's war, not a young man's war," Willie said.

David Brown was 34 years old when he was deployed to Iraq in September of 1990.

"I was uncertain of whether I would ever see my family again, but I was dedicated to the cause and I felt that the sacrifice would be worthwhile," he said. "Then my concerns changed to making sure all my soldiers returned home safe and healthy. And that became my battle cry for all my deployments into war zones."

Uncertainty hit home for mother Georgia as her son left for war.

"When David graduated from Whitehouse High School, he said that he was going to go into the Army to help pay for college," Mrs. Brown said. "David enlisted, and then when his son Aaron joined, they served together through the first tour of duty in Iraq."

Before his son enlisted, David had planned to retire from the Army. Upon the realization that his children Aaron and Tamika were joining him in Iraq, he continued to serve his country as operation sergeant major.

"I had very little to do with our assignment other than postponing my retirement and deploying with the same Division my son was in," David said. "Aaron deployed in January, I went in March and Tamika showed up in October. I saw Aaron a lot while in Baghdad, but I never got a chance to see Tamika."

The Brown family has a long-standing history of serving in the military, with relatives having been in WWII and the Korean War.

"I believe that every able-bodied person should serve in the military in some form or another," David said. "My family has a very strong sense of defense of the nation and our constitution and we fully understand our commitment to the military."

David has instilled the importance of duty not only to his children, but to the men and women he has served alongside in war.

"What better way to change people's lives than to fight for their freedom?" he said. "I know that I changed the lives of many people not just in America but all over the world. Like many other army leaders, I will always reach out to make young men and women better citizens of this country, building character and discipline."

Ernest Broughton Ester Broughton Johnny Green Prentere Broughton