Page 32 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2022 - Online Magazine

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and 15 days, Brown’s time overseas was Home
over. “After arriving back in San Francisco,
we had five buses full of Marines, and
they took us to El Paso. I then took a bus
of the
to Lubbock. My dad was working at Reese
Air Force Base at that time. I arrived back of the
on October 2 and married Jackie Rogers on
free
October 16, 1954, at her folks’ farm.” Still on
active duty, John was ordered back to Camp
Pendleton at USMC Test Unit # 1 near San
Diego, and Jackie went with him. “Even
though I was a PFC over a Sergeant, I got free
a promotion to Corporal, and four months
later, I became a Sergeant.”
John’s active duty was over on February 3,
1956. Less than two months later, his son,
because
Terry, was born. With the family back in
Lubbock, John went to work for National because
Life Insurance. “After eight years, I was
going to move to Big Spring, but I didn’t like
of the
the deal they offered once I got there, so I
quit. Jackie was all packed up and ready to
move, so she was not happy. I went to work of the
for BMA (Business Men’s Assurance) selling
all types of insurance for several years. I
also worked part-time with my brother in a
wrecking yard. After the insurance business,
I ran a janitorial service, and we cleaned Brave
all the movie theaters and drive-ins in Brave
Lubbock.”

storming into the HQ office and said, ‘Who’s the SOB John and Jackie divorced after 15 years. He
that ordered us to land here? I told you it couldn’t married Otilia Escobedo in January 1972. They were
be done!’ The Lt. Colonel listening nearby said, ‘I’m married for 38 years, until Otilia’s death in January A A A A A
the one who gave that order. Well, you’re here aren’t 2010. Looking back on his life, Brown said, “I’d like to
you!’ End of discussion.” be remembered for my service in the Marines, being Thank You, Veterans.
an elder in my church and a good father to my son.”
Brown got to repeat history in the 7th Fleet’s exercise
in March 1954. His 3rd Marine Division landed Mr. Brown escaped death one more time in late
on Iwo Jima after the Navy simulated a naval November 2019. He was headed to Brownfield when
bombardment of the island. The landing was on the a serious car wreck at FM 1585 and the Brownfield
beach by Mount Suribachi, where the WWII landing Highway landed him in the hospital for ten days.
had taken place in 1945. Jumping into the water from He survived. John Brown, Jr., is still lucky and still
the LST, John accidentally hit his head on the side of Marine tough. Semper Fi, Sgt. Brown.
the boat and was nearly run over as it backed out.
“We landed on the beach, climbed to the top of Mount
Suribachi, the whole bit.” After one year, one month,

State Representative Senator State Representative
John Frullo Charles Perry Dustin Burrows
32 Lubbock Senior Link
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