By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
The city of Olive Hill recently lost a pillar of the community in David Brown. Brown was known as a decorated veteran – earning two Purple Hearts and Medals of Valor, among others – but he was also humble.
“He didn’t once brag about his achievements,” remembers his son-in-law, Olive Hill city attorney Derrick Willis.
Instead, he continued a life of quiet service, even after leaving active military duty, working with the American Legion and other groups around the area. Though many will remember him for his work with military funerals, his heart and charity weren’t limited to his fellow veterans. Willis recalled how he once bought Christmas gifts for a family who had lost everything in a house fire. He didn’t tell anyone he had done so, not even his wife and family. The reason? He said he hadn’t done it for the recognition. He’d done it because he didn’t want to see another family go without.
While none of us will never understand what David Brown endured in Vietnam – like so many others, he kept many of those stories close to his vest – this article from the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) syndicate gives some small insight into the type of man he was.
Sgt. Keller, the man rescued by Brown in the NEA story, told Willis that Brown was, “a natural born leader” who “completely took control of the situation.” Wordlessly expressing to the other men on the patrol that they needed to spread out, and act like they were a bigger force than they were.
That’s the kind of man he was, Willis said. Decisive. Selfless. Commanding. And willing to give his all for his comrades and companions.
