DOB/DOD: October 1, 1938 (Butler, PA) – April 11, 1971; 32 years old
RELIGION: Lutheran
MARITAL STATUS: Married Betty J. Parsons [now Betty Rose] (1938-).
CHILDREN: One son, Timothy (1963-). Two daughters, Melissa (1967-) and Kristel E. Brown Quarti (1968-).
COLLEGE: Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, graduating in 1961. Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary, graduating in 1965.
ENLISTMENT: November 10, 1969
SERVICE NUMBER: 199307655
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 5310, Chaplain
TOUR START DATE: August 12, 1970
UNIT: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 198th Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division (Americal)
CASUALTY LOCATION: Quang Ngai Province
ON THE WALL: Panel 4W, Line 118
FAMILY: Born to Hale D. (1911-1991) and Christina J. McKinney Brown (1919-1988). One brother, James (1948-). One sister, Ruth Ann Brown Hildebrand (1944-2023).
DECORATIONS: Awarded Bronze Star Medal with Valor, the Bronze Star Medal with Merit, and the Purple Heart Medal
CIRCUMSTANCES: SP4 Wayne W. Baggett was a flight-qualified UH-1 helicopter repairer serving with the 17th Assault Helicopter Company. On April 11, 1971, the 1-20 Infantry Headquarters located at LZ Liz observed an Easter Sunday service with the battalion chaplain, CAPT Merle D. Brown. A hot meal was provided, brought in by a resupply helicopter earlier in the day. At 1600 hours, Alpha Company’s resupply ship, Dolphin 21 (ship #191), returned to 3rd Platoon to pick up the empty cans and personnel. SP4 Baggett was the crew chief on this flight. While departing the 3rd Platoon field location, Dolphin 21 was hit by either one rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) or an M-79 round. The aircrew attempted to fly the aircraft out of the landing zone (LZ); however, it was hit by a second RPG or M-79 round, which caused the aircraft to crash into the LZ and burn. The LZ then came under a heavy volume of small arms fire, M-79, RPG, B-40 rocket, and machine gun fire from the northeast, east, and south of the perimeter at a distance of 75-100 meters. SP4 Baggett and CAPT Brown were fatally injured in the incident. Nine other U.S. personnel were killed as they attempted to secure the downed helicopter. They included SSGT Jean P. Humbert, SGT James L. Armstrong, SP4 Jon M. Melin, SP4 Jack P. Begley, PFC Douglas A. Varner, PFC Joseph E. Schoolmeesters, PFC Edward P Pilkington, PFC Richard M. Warren, and PFC Joe R. Silva. Another ten were wounded. [From 174ahc.org]
NOTE: This event took place on Easter Sunday in 1971.
Capital University Class of 1961 yearbook
NOTE: He is the namesake of Capital University’s Merle D. Brown Award in Recognition of Outstanding Service in Intercollegiate Debate, which was established in 1972.
Photos from vvmf.org. Taken in Vietnam on the Day of Prayer on October 21, 1970, as he used a C-ration box as an altar.
From VVMF posted by Paul Grice on December 13, 2007
Action Report from 1st Bn 20th Infantry Website
ALPHA COMPANY
April 11, 1971
The Battalion Chaplain and a hot meal were dropped off by resupply chaplain early in the day, and at 1600 hrs, Alpha Company Resupply Ship Dolphin 21, ship #191, was returning to pick up cans and personnel, location 628523, 3rd Platoon. While departing the 3rd Platoon field location, Dolphin 21 was hit by 1 M-79 round. The Aircrew attempted to fly the aircraft out of the LZ; however, he was hit by a second round of M-79, which caused the aircraft to crash into the LZ and burn. The LZ then came under then came under a heavy volume of small arms fire, M-79, B40, and machine gun fire, to the northeast, East, and South of the perimeter at a distance of 75-100 meters. As Alpha Company 3rd Platoon was assisting the aircraft crew and passengers in evacuating the aircraft, simultaneously, personnel on the LZ started receiving hand grenades and satchel charges, time 1610 hrs. Gun-ships requested at 1603 hrs, on station at 1611 hrs, Sharks 3 & 7, and Helix 37 on station at 1623 hrs. Artillery Fire Mission called at 1930 hrs, and Dust Off 54 on station. The 3rd Platoon was still receiving small arms fire at this time. The additional gunships Gunsmoke 6, Warlord 34, 3, and 20 are on station at 1710hrs. Helix 39 is on station at 1717 hrs, first air strike in at 1730 hrs (4 sorties). Dust Off 54 picked up 7 men from Alpha Company Command Post and inserted them into the 3rd Platoon location to assist them. At 1728 hrs, Dust Off 54 extracted 6 US WIA to B Med. At 1740hrs, Blue Ghost 27 is on station. Helix 39 put in another Air strike at 1820 hrs (4 sorties). CA fleet 5 slicks, 1 AMC, on station 1825 hrs. 1st platoon Bravo Company was picked up at LZ Liz at 1830 hrs (26 packs) and inserted in vicinity grid 628523 at 1847 hrs. At 1900 hrs, Bravo Company 1st Platoon is on the ground at Alpha Company 3rd Platoon location, 628523, and is sweeping the area. AMC took 15-20 rounds of small arms fire from grid 617523 at 1840 hrs, gunships expended on target with unknown results. Dolphin 21 crew and 2 US WIA extracted by Dolphin 6 at 1850 hrs, and at 1855 hrs Helix 32 on station with air strikes (2 sorties). AMC broke station at 1904 hrs. Shadow 61 is on station at 1950 hrs. Helix 32 broke station at 2130 hrs. Shark 3 and 7, Gunsmoke 6 has broken station at 1915 hrs. Shadow 61 has broken station at 2145 hrs. Contact was broken at 1650 hrs. Results as of 0100 hrs 12 April 71, are as follows: Friendly 11 US KIA (1-174th AVN Co, 9 Alpha Company 3rd Plat, 1 Battalion Chaplain), 10 US WIA (1 Delta Company resupply, 9 Alpha Co 3rd Plat). Enemy: 2 NVA KIA, 1 AK-47 CIA. Friendly KIA CHAPLAIN BROWN, SSGT JEAN P. HUMBERT, SGT JAMES L. ARMSTRONG, SP4 JON M. MELIN, SP4 JACK P. BEGLEY, PFC DOUGLAS A. VARNER, PFC JOSEPH E. SCHOOLMEESTERS, PFC EDWARD P. PILKINGTON, PFC RICHARD M. WARREN, PFC JOE R. SILVA, SP4 WAYNE CARLOS BAGGETT (174TH ARN CREW MEMBER), ARE LISTED AS KIA. The founding personnel reported WIA Sgt Allen R. Barfield, Sgt Ananias McBride, PFC Earl R. Masburn, PFC Mark E Singleton, PFC Larry E. Foust, Sgt Donald H. Furr (Delta Company), SP4 Robert M. Fantone, PFC James P. Skelton, PFC John Lawson, SP4 Michael J. Carretti.
From The Morning Pioneer (Mandan, North Dakota) on April 16, 1971
Once Granville-Norwich Pastor Dies In Vietnam
MINOT (AP) — Word has been received of the death in Vietnam of the Rev. Merle D. Brown, Lutheran pastor at Granville and Norwich for more than four years. He had been an Army chaplain in Vietnam and reportedly lost his life when a helicopter in which he was a passenger was shot down. He was 32 years of age. He began his service as pastor of First Lutheran Church in Granville and Norwich Lutheran Church in July 1965, leaving to become an Army chaplain, entering the service as a captain. He was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey, before going to Vietnam last fall. While enroute to the war zone, Mr. Brown stopped in Granville to renew acquaintances. Friends said they understood the clergy-man had been back in the United States on leave about two months ago after completing half of his one-year tour in Vietnam, then returned to Southeast Asia. Mr. Brown was born on October 1, 1938, in Butler, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary at Columbus. Granville-Norwich was his first and only parish before entering the service. During his time at Granville, he served on the school board and city council, was chairman for a term of the Minot Conference of Churches, chairman of the Missions Board of the Western North Dakota District of the American Lutheran Church, and a member of the Lake Metigoshe Bible Camp Board. While in North Dakota, he transferred from the Army Reserves, which he entered in 1962, to the National Guard and served as chaplain of the 164th Engineer Battalion of Minot for more than three years. He is survived by his wife and three children, Timothy, Melissa, and Kristel.
Americal Division Southern Cross article; Vol. 4, No. 22 Chu Lai, Vietnam on June 04, 1971
By PFC William Hutchison
Memorial for 11th Bde Chaplain
CHU LAI (23rd Inf. Div. IO) – Memorial services were held recently in the 23rd Infantry Division chapel for Chaplain (CPT) Merle D. Brown, 11th Infantry Brigade, who was killed in action on Easter Sunday, the 11th of April 1971. The services were attended by Major General James L. Baldwin, Commanding General of the 23rd Infantry Division, members of his staff, and the Division chaplains. On Easter Sunday, Chaplain Brown lost his life as a result of enemy action. The chaplain had just finished church services for one of the companies of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade. “He truly died in the service of God and his fellowman,” stated Division Chaplain (Lieutenant Colonel) Ira G. Moss. Chaplain Brown was born on 1 October 1938 in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was educated at Capitol University and the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. He received his commission as a chaplain and entered the U.S. Army on the 14th of May, 1968. Prior to coming to the Republic of Vietnam, Brown served at Walson Army Hospital, Fort Dix, New Jersey. In a letter he wrote just after he received his orders for Vietnam, Chaplain Brown expressed: “a tremendous joy over being able to serve the men in Vietnam.” He had been in Vietnam with the 11th Infantry Brigade since August 1970. Chaplain Brown is survived by his wife, Betty, who resides in Columbus, Ohio, and three children, Timothy, age 7; Melissa, age 5; and Kristel, age 2. The chaplains attending the memorial service were addressed by Chaplain (COL) John W. Betzold, Command Chaplain for MACV, and Chaplain (COL) Leonard F. Stegman, Staff Chaplain USARV. The benediction was delivered by Chaplain (MAJ) Edwin A. Roloson of the 14th CAB. After the services in the chapel, the chaplains dedicated a stone monument and a plaque to the memory of the Americal chaplains who had laid down their lives in the Republic of Vietnam. The monument will be permanently located in front of the Division chapel. The plaque was inscribed: “In memory of Americal Chaplains killed in Action. Servants of God and Man. They await the resurrection with the men for whom they died.”
Buried in Concord Cemetery, 673 Hooker Rd, West Sunbury, Pennsylvania; Section B Lot 245, Grave 1.
END