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Few, if any, men have earned more right to rest in peace for a job well done than Dave Brown. A thorough, sincere, aggressive professional soldier, Dave was very highly respected by all who knew and worked with him. The men he so willingly commanded in combat regarded him as a soldier's soldier whom they would follow anywhere. He died striving for what he wanted most to be—a good soldier.</p>
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Dave was born in Highland Park, Illinois, on 19 April 1944 into an Army family and spent his childhood at several different military bases in the United States, Europe, and the Far East. Among them was a three-year tour at West Point from August 1953 to July 1956, where he observed the Corps of Cadets in all its activities and developed an intense desire to join the Long Cray Line. He graduated in June 1962 from Lee High School in Springfield, Virginia, where he excelled in academics as well as wrestling and track. A fierce competitor at everything he did, Dave was consistently a winner. He brought his tremendous drive, will to win, and sincerity to West Point in July 1962 where he won countless friends and admirers among the officers and cadets he met. In his endeavor to live above the common level of life, Dave set examples of honesty, professionalism, and athletic prowess which inspired all who knew him. An accomplished skier, he made the most of every possible opportunity to improve his form on West Point's ski slopes.</p>
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He was a devoted Episcopalian, and as an acolyte he carried the cross at the Protestant Baccalaureate service the Sunday before he graduated from West Point in 1966. Ironically, Dave was the third of three cadets on that service's program card to die in Vietnam as a Christian soldier.<br />
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Volunteering for Vietnam duty even before graduation as an Infantry officer, Dave wanted to go to the sound of the guns more than anything else. After completing Ranger and Airborne training followed by duty at Fort Carson, Colorado, as a company commander with the 10th Infantry, 5th Infantry Division (M), he got his wish. In June 1967, he joined the 173d Airborne Brigade, serving over nine months as a rifle platoon commander and earning a chestful of decorations leading his men in combat. Following a period serving as Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of Staff, First Field Forces Vietnam, Dave extended his original tour for six months to command a company in combat as a Captain. He had successfully commanded his beloved company for more than two months when early in the moming of 7 September 1968, a savage North Vietnamese ground assault overran his company’s position. He was killed by hostile fire while trying to organize a counter-attack. His determination and courage greatly contributed to halting the enemy advance.</p>
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Though Dave has left this world, the vivid memories of him as a tremendous person and a wonderful and faithful friend will never wane. I feel privileged to have known him and to be able to call him a classmate.</p>
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<em>—Walter E. Brinker, Jr.</em></p>