After 45 years, local veteran gets his Bronze Star

“The crash equipment would roll, go out and foam the runways and cement, and I would go with them to keep their equipment running,” Brown said. He was the only mechanic on the scene who could keep the fire equipment running.

From November 1969 to October 1970, Brown demonstrated “outstanding professional skill and initiative” that “aided immeasurably in identifying and solving numerous problems encountered in the accomplishment of his duties,” read a citation dated Nov. 8, 1970, which was supposed to accompany a Bronze Star medal.

But the medal never came, likely because of a typographical error in Brown’s discharge papers. He wrote letters and made phone calls. So did his children. For 45 years, Brown unsuccessfully tried to get his medal, the physical symbol of his valor.

“I just got tired of writing letters to no avail,” he said. The last time he tried was about five years ago. By then he had pretty much given up.

But at the beginning of this year, Brown met up with people with the Veterans Coffee program in Salisbury. They suggested he contact the Concord office of 8th District Congressman Richard Hudson. After pushing for three months, Hudson’s staff was able to secure the medal for Brown.

Hudson presented the medal to brown at an event organized by Veterans Coffee at the Hendrick Motorsports Team Center building in Concord on Wednesday.