Korean War Legacy Project

George Brown

Bio

George Brown is the surviving brother of Arthur Leroy Brown. Arthur Leroy Brown enlisted in the United States Army and served in the 24th Division 21st Regiment K Company. While attending the annual 39th POW reunion in Louisville, KY, George recounts the story of his brother who was captured as a Prisoner of War on July 7th, 1950, and died on his twenty-first birthday on January 31st, 1951. George recalls the news struck a devastating blow to the Brown family, especially his mother who was pregnant at the time with the family’s first baby girl. George has continued to attend the Korean War Veterans Conferences in an effort to keep the memory of his brother alive and to hear the incredible stories of those who experienced the war as well.

Please see Arthur Leroy Brown’s profile in our interview archive.

Video Clips

Family Hears News Of Their Son's Death

George Brown recounts learning of his brother Arthur L. Brown initially being classified as Missing in Action on July 7, 1950. He shares that Arthur was serving in Korea as part of the 21st Regiment, 24th Division, Company K where when he was not actively carrying out his duty as an infantryman. He recalls how the family later learned he was being held as a Prisoner of War at Camp 5 in Pyoktong, North Korea. He recounts learning how Arthur died on his twenty-first birthday in January 1951 and that some of the returning soldiers told his family Arthur had suffered from complications due to Beriberi.

Tags: Depression,Fear,Front lines,Home front,Living conditions,North Koreans,Personal Loss,POW

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Regrets of Hearing About Their Son's Death

George Brown recalls his parents were hit very hard by the news of their son Arthur Leroy Brown's death. He recalls his mom was pregnant with their first daughter and all were excited with the news. He remembers how Arthur eagerly shared the news with his fellow soldiers. He recounts how before Arthur left for boot camp, he and his father got into a scuffle because his father did not want him to quit school to join the Army.

Tags: Basic training,Civilians,Fear,Front lines,Home front,Personal Loss,POW

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The Burial of a POW

George Brown shares he was only six years old at the time his family was notified of his brother Arthur's death in POW Camp 5 in North Korea. He states that Arthur was temporarily buried in North Korea in a shallow grave due to the ground being frozen solid. He explains that the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency lists Arthur as unaccounted for and shares that Arthur is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Cemetery of the Pacific.

Tags: Pyungyang,Civilians,Cold winters,Depression,Fear,Front lines,Home front,Impressions of Korea,Living conditions,North Koreans,Personal Loss,Poverty,POW

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