Brown (DD 546) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 8 text:

L. B. Gerdes RD2 STiFF DEDICniOl )i4 L. M. Clark S0G2 .X W. R. Baaumont PNSN This book is d«dicof«d to the officsrs ond crews who have served, and are now serving, aboard the U.S.S. BROWN. It is because of their courage and willingness to stomp out the enemies of our United States that has made this ship a strong unit in the fleets of Uncle Sam ' s Navy.

Page 7 text:

• ' . J. ' ' ti !¥ r- ifiS IM % aJMb iTi g Vrn ! « l? ■Ell ' , t P-1 m ' M

Page 9 text:

WORLD WIR II 1 The U.S.S. BROWN was launched 21 February 1943, from the Son Pedro Terminal Island Shipyard of the Bethlehem Steel Company and was named in honor of Quartermaster George Brown, U.S. Navy. He first entered naval service on board the United States Schooner ENTERPRISE, as a seaman, at Malta on 8 July 1803, end in November of tliat same year, seaman George Brown was promoted to Quartermaster. He volunteered and took part in the expedition which entered the harbor of Tripoli on 16 February 1804, and destroyed the former U.S. Frigate PHILADELPHIA. The BROWN was sponsored by Mrs. Claude 0. Kell, wife of U.S. Navy Captain Kell, at tfie commissioning ceremonies on 10 July 1943. While the home shipyard was Mare Island, California, and the home port was San Diego, California, the BROWN was fitted out at the Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island, from 10 July to 29 July 1943. The first shakedown training cruise ran from 29 July to 26 August 1943. In September of that same year, 1943, the BROWN reported for duty and was assigned to the F ifth F leet. During assignment to the Fifth Fleet, the BROWN participated in the following raids or engagements with the enemy: Nauru Island — 8 December 1943 Kavieng Harbor — 25 December 1943 to 4 January 1944 Assault and capture of Majuro and Kwajalein Atolls — 29 January to February 1944 Truk in the Caroline Islands — 17 February 1944 Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian and Marianas - February 1944 Palau, Yap and Woloai - 30 March to 2 April 1944 Ponape Island — 1 May 1944 On 7 May 1944, Commander Thomas H. Copeman, U.S. Navy, then commanding officer of the BROWN, was presented the Silver Star Medal and cited in the name of the President of the United States, as follows: For conspicous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as the commanding officer of a destroyer attached to a carrier task group supporting the assault forces engaged in the occupation of the Gilbert Islands during the period from 10 to 30 November 1943. His ship assisted in the repulse of enemy air attacks upon the task group during the evenings of 25 and 26 November. On 28 November 1943 while on detached duty with another destroyer of the same task group, his ship was the objective of re- peated attacks by enemy torpedo bombers from 0633 to 0643 hours. These attacks were resolutely made. By vigorous offensive fire from his ship, Two enemy aircraft were certainly destroyed. Three torpedoes were launched at his ship, which, by skillful maneuvering, he evaded. His outstanding courage, skill, determination, and devotion to duty were in keeping with ttie highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. This speech was used by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, U.S. Navy, in awarding the above citation to Commander Copeman. The U.S.S. BROWN went on to build up its reputation through the following