Local soldier who sacrificed his life for comrades during WWII is being memorialized 80 years after his death

4 months ago

ARTICLE AD BOX

Published astatine 9:37 am, May 27, 2024

First Sgt. Virgil “Bud” Brown was killed redeeming nan life of his comrades nether force occurrence weeks aft nan D-Day invasion. Watch nan question and reply supra to study much astir him. | Courtesy photos

IDAHO FALLS – When Virgil Brown said goodbye to his woman and her boy from a erstwhile marriage, he afloat expected he would spot them again. But he didn’t.

The 22-year-old Idaho Falls man, known arsenic Bud to friends and family, enlisted successful nan U.S. Army during World War II and was deployed overseas successful 1943. The pursuing year, he was killed while redeeming his comrades nether force occurrence connected nan beaches of Normandy six weeks aft nan D-Day invasion.

His assemblage was later buried astatine nan Normandy American Cemetery. His sanction is etched connected a headstone successful nan style of a achromatic transverse that overlooks nan Atlantic Ocean, according to interrogator Kelly Smyth. For galore years, Bud’s remains and whereabouts were chartless to those who knew him, isolated from for members of his extended family.

Smyth, a history coach successful Caldwell, learned of Brown astir 10 years agone while doing a investigation task pinch 1 of her students successful conjunction pinch nan 70th day of nan Normandy invasion. Smyth tells EastIdahoNews.com it made nan task other typical to study astir a worker from her location authorities whose communicative was “lost successful time.”

“We were honored to beryllium a portion of researching this phenomenal man. He won nan distinguished work cross, which is 2nd only to nan badge of honor,” Smyth says.

Pete Revell, a British historian, heard astir Smyth’s project. He lives part-time successful Dangy, France, a metropolis that was liberated from German business because of Brown’s actions. Revell worked pinch nan politician of Dangy to create a memorial honoring Brown and 2 different men who helped him. It will beryllium dedicated this summertime connected nan 80th day of his death.

Brown’s background

Brown was calved successful Idaho Falls connected August 31, 1921 to Edwin and Carrie Brown, according to a web page created by Smyth and Emma Campbell. He was nan 2nd of 5 kids and nan only son.

He attended Idaho Falls High School and was a halfback connected nan shot team.

Brown joined nan Idaho National Guard successful 1940 and enlisted successful nan U.S. Army nan pursuing year.

While training pinch nan 183rd Field Artillery Battalion successful Yakima, Washington, he met Betty Wyatt Laidler and her young son, Gary. He and Betty were joined connected Feb. 3, 1943.

Brown met his family 1 past clip successful Pocatello earlier his deployment connected Oct. 19, 1943.

First sergeant Brown was pinch his artillery battalion successful Sainte-Lô, France connected July 28, 1944 erstwhile they were unexpectedly attacked from down by German forces.

A citation connected his Distinguished Service Cross explains what happened.

“First Sergeant Brown, pinch complete disregard for his ain safety, courageously led his men done incessant automatic weapons and mini arms occurrence successful a vicious counterattack. Surprised by a abrupt burst of occurrence from a well-concealed instrumentality gun, Brown daringly charged nan weapon emplacement. Although earnestly wounded by a burst of occurrence from nan gun, he continued his heroic beforehand until he was again deed and mortally wounded.”

Larry Manion, Brown’s nephew from Texas who has a 2nd location successful Victor, says it was respective weeks to a period earlier nan family was notified of Bud’s death. Two of Bud’s sisters were told by a friend that a telegram was sent to their parent’s house. Manion’s mom, 1 of Brown’s different sisters, was successful Virginia pinch her dada astatine nan clip and didn’t find retired until later.

“My grandfather (Bud’s dad) served successful World War I. Losing his boy complete location was a existent rustle for him,” Manion says. “It was difficult connected each of them.”

Bud’s parents chose to person their son’s assemblage buried successful Normandy. Manion isn’t judge why they made that decision.

A memorial work was held successful Idaho Falls, but Manion’s mom was incapable to attend.

“I person been to (the cemetery wherever Bud is buried),” says Manion. “One point connected my dad’s bucket database was to spell to that cemetery and sojourn Uncle Bud’s grave. Me and my woman were ne'er capable to do that pinch him.”

Remembering Brown

Though Brown ne'er saw his family aft his deployment, he continued to constitute letters. A missive dated July 20, 1944, was nan past missive he wrote earlier his death. An excerpt from that missive contains a casual remark “about nan weather, really difficult training was” and an enquiry astir “how everyone was” astatine home.

Eighty years later, it’s a stark reminder of really vulnerable life is.

Betty and her son, Gary, person since passed distant arsenic well. Manion says Betty remarried astir six years aft Brown’s death. She moved backmost to Yakima, Washington and died successful 2010 of earthy causes. Gary died successful 2017, but Manion isn’t judge what caused his death.

Though Bud’s sedate has ne'er officially been recognized by his family, Manion says they talked astir and remembered him arsenic a family each Memorial Day. Manion is incapable to be nan dedication of Bud’s memorial successful France but he’s grateful that his uncle is being recognized.

As for Smyth, she opportunity it’s “an grant to uncover his story” and stock it pinch nan world.

“They (Bud and nan different 2 men who sacrificed their lives) should beryllium honored and remembered (so) … early generations will ne'er hide his sacrifice,” Smyth says.