LIEUTENANT GENERAL
LESLIE E. BROWN, USMC
(DECEASED)
Lieutenant General Leslie E. Brown, a decorated Marine aviator who retired from the Marine Corps on 1 October 1978, died near Palm Springs, California, on 12 September 1997.
General Brown was born 7 July 1920 in Washington state, but called himself a Californian. He graduated from high school in 1938 and attended Compton College in California prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1940. In 1962, he attended Oklahoma State University where he earned both BS and BA degrees and completed graduate studies in Human Resources Management.
A former enlisted Marine and infantry platoon leader, he received a field commission during World War II while serving as a member of the 2d Marine Division in the Pacific. In 1946, he completed flight training and qualified in most types of jets, transports and helicopters that the Marine Corps had in use.
General Brown had extensive combat and command experience in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He participated in four major landings in the Pacific, and while in Korea, he was the first Marine to fly a jet in combat. In Vietnam, he was the First Wing Operations Officer (G-3), and then commanded a jet attack group at Chu Lai, earning many aviation "firsts".
He held numerous staff assignments including duty as Secretary to the General Staff and as a JCS Project Officer at Headquarters Marine Corps; Logistics Operations Officer for the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; Deputy J-3 (Operations) for the U.S. Command in Europe; Chief of Staff, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and his final assignment as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
His personal decorations included two Silver Star Medal awards; three Legion of Merit awards with Combat "V"; the Distinguished Flying Cross; the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"; nine awards of the Air Medal; the Navy Commendation Medal; and two Purple Heart awards. Additionally, he was awarded the VFW Grand Cross of Malta (the VFW's highest award); and the Reserve Officer Association (ROA) Meritorious Service Medal. In January 1975, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.