JAMES BROWN (1986-2006)

James Eric Brown, a Marine Lance Corporal from Owensville, Indiana, gave his life for his country on November 2, 2006, while serving in Iraq. He was 20 years old.

James received a single gunshot to the back of the head while standing sentry duty at an observation post near Camp Habbaniyah. Next to the city of Habbaniyah, the Camp lies in the most dangerous zone for American forces, Al Anbar Province. Habbaniyah is just nine miles west of Fallujah and lies on the road between Fallujah and Ramadi. James had been in Iraq for just four months.

James is survived by his mom, Joanne ("Jody") Van Antwerp, and also by his brother, Dillen, and sister, Carma, who were 14 and 17 when James died. He is also survived by his beloved fiance, Jamie Coleman, whom he was to marry upon returning from Iraq in February, 2007.

James will be missed by a host of relatives, football teammates, boxing teammates, schoolmates, fellow soldiers and friends who loved, admired and respected him immensely.

This was a leader of men ... an iron-man football player who was voted most valuable player by his teammates ... a man who won two Golden Gloves titles while leading his team to state honors in the tournament ... a man who took care of his family ... a man who looked forward to his wedding with Jamie and having his own kids ... a man who accepted Christ and was baptized ... a man who served his country with such zeal that he was promoted during basic and led patrols just four months into his combat assignment.

This Web site is dedicated to James and his family. In it, I will share something of James' life, his family, his sports and his military service. In it, I hope to show people who never knew James just how high a cost young Americans, and their families and communities, pay to keep our country and our friends and allies free.

I have talked to many of James' Marine, Army, Navy, and Air Force buddies. Many of his fellow Marines returned to Iraq in November 2007 with James' India Company. Since James died, eleven of his friends from Gibson Southern have served in Iraq and some are there now, three years after James made his final journey home. His friends and their families are again in the line of fire and we keep them and all of our servicemen and servicewomen in our prayers. "Someone has to do this", they will all tell you. "It might as well be me."

Soldiers are not highly paid and veterans' benefits are nothing close to what they should be. Our soldiers, however, do not ask for that much. As one Marine recently wrote, "all we want is an occasional 'thank you' ... it means a whole lot."

So let me say it here. Thank you for all you do for us.