Fairlea, WV (WOAY) Friday, August 14th was Military Day at the West Virginia State Fair, and a true hero of our state and country was recognized as the most decorated Vietnam veteran in the state.
William (Bill) C. Brown is a retired Army Sergeant First Class and Beckley native who served three years in Vietnam. On Friday, Brown went to the West Virginia State Fair to receive a special recognition:
“They give me credit for being West Virginia’s most decorated soldier in Vietnam.”
He has earned the Silver Star – the US Armed Forces’ third-highest military decoration, awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy.
He has also earned four Bronze Stars for heroic service and two Purple Hearts for his injuries in battle.
“I’m a mountaineer first and foremost,” says Brown, showing off his blue prosthetic leg covered with gold WVU Mountaineers logos.
“I literally had hundreds killed in my unit. We’ve had a lot of casualties. We were land clearers. We had 100 D9 bulldozers. We cut jungle… I was wounded in Vietnam and Cambodia both. I got hit with a mortar… 82 mortar… It’s a big shell and an explosion—a million pieces, you know.”
Brown says it feels good to be recognized, but his thoughts are with the over 58 thousand American troops who couldn’t be there to receive the same honor.
“I think of everyone that didn’t have the opportunity—that didn’t make it. We lost a lot of guys in Vietnam. People don’t realize how many we lost.”
Brown had a police escort on his way to the celebration, and said he was sure to be on his best behavior.
“I mean, who would have ever thought I’d be escorted? I told those two cops that brought me, I’ve never been escorted by a cop before, you know. 87 years old, and I have never been escorted by a cop. Because I try to behave myself and, you know.”
Brown lost his wife of 62 years in February. He has three children, and his son came to support him as he was recognized by the governor and other prominent West Virginians, including Senator Brian Helton, who said he had enjoyed getting to know Brown over the past few days.
“He’s going to be one of the first recipients to be inducted into the Military Hall of Fame here in West Virginia. He’s so deserving and such a kind, gentle man, so great for West Virginia. And he’s embodied West Virginia not just through his service, but then through the life he’s lived after that; he’s been so community-oriented, so focused. He’s had bridges named after him here, partly because of his military service, but mostly because of the man he is: a man of integrity and honor.”
Many in West Virginia have probably driven across a bridge named after Brown. The William C. Brown Bridge off I-64 in Beckley carries Route 19 across Piney Creek. It is nearly 2,000 feet long and supports roughly 10,000 cars a day, according to the WV Division of Highways.
“I’m just so proud to be standing by him to see him here today because he’s a true legend here in West Virginia. And we’re just so glad to honor him here today…”
