Clide Brown Jr. -The Man behind the story

   Ted McDonald posted a couple of  articles about soldiers in Vietnam (HERE and HERE).     One of my Standard Operating Procedures when I hear of a Vietnam Veteran in the news is to research them to find the "Story behind the Story." Here is some information that I found on Clide Brown who was featured on the cover of Time Magazine. It is comforting to know that Sgt Brown lived a full and apparently happy life after his service to his country.  Paying homage to their service is one of the duties of a Comrade in Arms even if you did not know them or serve with them. There is always a story behind the pictures.  I apologize ahead of time for the fact that I have not mentioned Sgt Brown's race in my comments.  It was not an oversight on my part but hopefully just a chance to bridge the barrier that has existed for way too long in this country.  He was a soldier, father and husband, but I never knew him as a friend. That was my loss. (Bobby Tony)

Vietnam Veteran and cover picture of Time Magazine  May 26, 1967

Vol 89 No  71

   Below is a picture of Sgt Brown from the Time Article showing him on patrol in Vietnam.

Clide Brown Legacy Obituary

BROWN, CLIDE JR
SGT US ARMY VIETNAM
DATE OF BIRTH: 03/12/1943 --- DATE OF DEATH: 10/19/2016
BURIED AT: SECTION R ROW 27 SITE 37
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE VETERANS CEMETERY
7931 MCCRORY LANE NASHVILLE, TN 37221

Nashville, TN

Age 73, passed away October 19, 2016. Survived by devoted wife of over 50 years, Amelia Brown, 6 children a host of other relatives & friends.

Viewing Saturday 11-3 at funeral home. Visitation Sunday 5-6 with funeral to follow

at First Baptist Church South Inglewood 1515 Ann St. Pastor N. Harris, V, Officiating

Terrell Broady Funeral Home, 615-244-4755

Published in Tennessean on Oct. 22, 2016

Excerpt from the Time Magazine Article

   Deep in "Indian country," the Viet Cong's jungled heartland, a lone U.S. helicopter flapped furiously down on an abandoned dirt roadway. Even before the Huey hit the ground, it[s] six passengers were out and running. Their faces streaked with camouflage paint, their black and green "tiger suits" blending into the foliage, their black-stocked M-16 automatic rifles at the ready, they faded swiftly into the perennial twilight of 80-ft. trees, impenetrable bamboo thickets, and tangles of thorn and "wait a minute" vines. This was "Lurp Team Two," a long-range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP) of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, sent to seek out two Viet Cong regiments that their outfit was itching to locate, engage and destroy. Within moments, Team Two was itself in imminent danger of destruction.    

(Here is the full text of article)

Quotes from Legacy website:  

  There is always someone who knew them before, after or during their moment in history. Here are a couple of quotes from the Legasy Website which illustrate that Sgt Brown indeed made a difference in other's lives/ 

   I served with Sgt. Brown during 1964-1966 with B/2/509th Airborne in Mainz/Gonsemheim Germany! Clide was what we called a "Strike" soldier! Meaning he always looked and carried himself in a professional manner! He was the kind of friend you could count on and the world has lost a true soldier! If any of the family could catch me up on what Clide did after his service, please contact me at jyetwest@msn.com God Bless the family of Sgt. Clide Brown

Jim West

December 15, 2017 | Knoxville, TN | Friend

 

I knew SGT Brown in the 509th Airborne in Germany. When i got to the 173rd Airborne in Vietnam he had just rotated home . I commanded the 173rd LRRP unit that he had been in.When i went to Ranger School he was one of the instructors. He recognized me during the swim test and saw I was about to drown. He pulled me to the side and gave me some hints on how a weak swimmer can pass the test. I passed! I remember him as a soldiers soldiers. He set the example for all of us to follow. God rest, Airborne. Rip

Albert Van Winkle

REFERENCE SITES USED FOR THIS ARTICLE

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/clide-brown-obituary?pid=182012976&view=guestbook

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172122405/clide-brown

http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19670526,00.html

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tennessean/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=182054216