J.R. BROWN

Mineman First Class

 

crew_with_propeller.jpg (92978 bytes)

Communications was out, and as the loudest 
whistler on the bridge, John was given the task 
of whistling.When an enemy plane was spotted, 
he was given the Word, and whistled at the 
nearest guns and pointed at the targets.When it 
was believed the ship would sink, he requested permission to disarm the depth charges to 
prevent them from exploding and killing crew 
members that would have been in the water.

Shown here with a kamikaze propeller 
embedded in the after deck house.  
Back L-R:  E.B. MacPherson, Allen Trent, 
Eddie Dial, Front:  J.R. Brown, 
R.P. Carpenter, E.H. Graver

Although he was wounded during the action, 
he did not believe his wound important enough 
to report to the doctor, and subsequently, he did not receive the Purple Heart he deserved.

 

Eddie died 25 April 1994.