The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
US graduate Brown was a hero in World War II
In the 1935 University School yearbook, Edward Dana Brown’s senior class profile states in part he “has proven himself a great asset to the school.”
To that point in his life, that was inherently true.
At the end of his life, Brown had proven himself to be a great asset not only to his school, but to his community and to his country.
A captain on the gridiron. A first lieutenant in the United States Army.
And a commander in selfless sacrifice, a remarkable story that needs to be told to a new generation.
Brown was born July 18, 1916, one of five children of Alexander Cushing Brown and Mary Dana Brown along with his brother Alexander and sisters Caroline, Mary and Florence. His family was accomplished. Alexander Cushing Brown was a longtime executive for Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company, starting in 1909 alongside his father, Brown’s grandfather Alexander F. Brown, who revolutionized coal and iron ore handling with the invention of the Brownhoist.
Alexander Cushing Brown later became chairman of the board for the company and also served as Cleveland Chamber of Commerce president.
Mary Dana Brown was the granddaughter of James Dwight Dana, a noted geologist referred to by one modern-day expert as the American version of Charles Darwin.
The Browns lived at 1625 Hazel Drive in Cleveland, which today is part of the Western Reserve Historical Society campus on University Circle.
Brown, known by his nickname Ted, was never lacking in items on the to-do list in his US days. He was on Athletic Council, sung in Glee Club and played trumpet for two years in the school orchestra.
An eight-time letterman – three each in football and swimming and two in track and field – Brown was named US’ captain on the gridiron for the 1934 season. He was a two-year starter, primarily at right tackle, and helped lead US to nine wins, including over Rhodes, Akron Buchtel, Shady Side (Pa.), Buffalo Nichols and Detroit Cranbrook.
“Often we have asked ourselves what we could do without his power to withstand the assault of the opposing football team or his perfectly harmonized tenor voice to hold up his section of the Glee Club,” US wrote in his 1935 senior profile. “As can be seen by his list of activities, this boy started out early in proving his athletic ability, and this has not waned through the years of his high school career, as is shown by his captaincy of this year’s football team.
“Ted has an easygoing sort of disposition and a sense of humor which makes him well liked by everyone.”
Brown went on to Brown University, graduating in 1939, before going to work at Otis Steel Company.
On March 5, 1941, Brown entered the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Camp Forrest in Tennessee, Fort Ord in California and later Fort Riley in Kansas for officer training, becoming a second lieutenant in 1942.
Brown was eventually promoted to first lieutenant and went overseas in March 1944 to England as World War II raged on.
He was a member of the 106th Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron under the command of Col. Vennard Wilson.
Author Shelby Stanton, in “An Encyclopedic Reference to U.S. Army Ground Forces from Battalion through Division, 1939–1946,” wrote of the 106th, “The 106th Cavalry Group’s purpose was to act as the ‘eyes and ears’ of a field army or army group, scouting ahead of slower and heavier-equipped armored and infantry formations to locate the enemy and shield friendly units from ground detection.”
The unit fought in jeeps or armored cars, traveling light to ensure their missions could be accomplished swiftly.
Brown and the 106th landed on the beaches of Normandy in France on July 2, 1944, tasked with assisting allied forces in penetrating further against the German army and liberating Europe.
In “The 106th Calvary’s Story,” author William H. Collier wrote the 106th came ashore and traveled 17 miles inland to near St. Sauveur-le-Vicomte, to await its orders. By July 7, the unit had advanced to La Haye-du-Puits.
On July 7, Brown was killed in action.
What happened in those five days amid combat in France – less than a month after D-Day – was later relayed to the Brown family and preserved for all time.
In a letter that sits in the US archives, Robert Smith wrote to Brown’s parents, wanting them to know of their son’s heroism. Smith was a lieutenant and Cleveland Heights native who was a close friend of Brown.
“I want to tell you about Ted, as much as I can, because I feel you want to know, and because I am proud to tell it,” Smith wrote.
Two days into France, Smith said Brown was the first officer in the 106th to encounter enemy fire, leading his platoon into German-held territory at dusk. As his jeep rounded a bend in the road, German soldiers opened fire on the vehicle. The driver was killed, a second soldier was wounded, and Brown and a fourth soldier were unharmed.
“They immediately lifted the wounded chap out of the vehicle and carried him into the woods out of sight of the German guns,” Smith wrote. “All this was done under fire. Ted then dressed the man’s wounds and, carrying him, between them, they moved to a safer spot to spend a sleepless night. In the morning, supporting their wounded companion as best they could, they set out for their lives.”
When they did, they encountered a seven-man German patrol, under orders to go find the group. Brown and his fellow soldier hid their wounded compatriot, then neutralized the patrol.
Later that morning, they found their unit.
“Ted’s conduct in this incident was so courageous that his men gave him the greatest compliment a man in his position can receive,” Smith stated. “They said, ‘Wherever Lt. Brown leads us, we are willing to follow because we know he will stick by us.’ “
Sadly after that courageous act, on July 7, Brown was speaking with a captain who had arrived at the battlefront to survey the situation. A shell landed on an armored car nearby, fatally wounding Brown.
One of 82 officers in the 106th, 23 earned Silver Stars, 24 got Bronze Stars, and Brown was one of 15 killed in action.
The 106th later became the first American troops to arrive in Salzburg, Austria, receiving a truce from a German officer on May 7, 1945, before the Germans surrendered entirely one day later.
Alexander Cushing Brown was on hand to receive his son’s posthumous Bronze Star on July 18, 1944. Memorial services were held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Aug. 10.
Brown is buried at Normandy American Cemetery in Plot C, Row 6, Grave 43, one of 9,385 members of the military laid to rest there. Each grave is marked by a noble white cross with rank, affiliation, state and date of death.
It rests about a football field away from the beaches where D-Day commenced.
Brown arrived on those beaches, scouting ahead for allied forces on their way to victory in the European theater. He selflessly laid his life on his line for a fellow soldier before giving his own just a couple days later.
He was a gridiron hero at US to be sure. But he was also an American hero, a Bronze Star recipient and a great asset to his nation.
“I have written this because I want you to know what a fine job Ted did for his country,” Smith said. “I am very proud to have been one of Ted’s friends. He was a sincere, honest young man. His slow, deliberate, quiet, unassuming manner won him many friends both in this regiment and in the 107th as well.
“You, as Ted’s parents, can be very, very proud of him because he died doing his job and doing it well. The greatest compliment I can give him is to say he was a soldier and a gentleman.”