Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1958 Lucky Bag:

EDWARD RAYMOND BROWNE

Here was one of those fantastic fellows who seemed to have more answers than the slide rule. Ed’s ability with the books was known far and wide and his room was always filled with seekers of the “gouge.” Standing in the top ten in the class, he always had plenty of leisure time and spent most of it utilizing another talent for beating a wicked snare drum for both the “Hellcats” and the Concert Band. Ed had one passion in life — that of joining the Marines after graduation to follow in his father’s footsteps. With his ability, we expect him to be Commandant in record time.

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He was also a member of the 1958 Drum and Bugle Corps staff (fall).

Loss

Ed was killed in action on July 27, 1967 while rescuing his men in the Quang Tri province. He was commanding officer of D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force.

Shipmate

From the November 1967 issue of Shipmate:

Capt. Edward R. Browne, USMC, died in enemy action on 27 July at Con Then, Vietnam. Memorial services were held in New London, Conn., with interment in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

Capt. Browne was born in San Diego, Calif., and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958 when he was eighth in his class. He served at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and later was an instructor at the U.S. Artillery School, Ft. Sill, Okla. From 1962-65 he attended the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey where he received a Master’s degree in electronics engineering. From 1965-66 he was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C., and had been serving in Vietnam for eleven months at the time of his death. He was commanding officer of “D” Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines.

Surviving are his widow, the former Elinor Hoefer, and children Elizabeth Anne and Edward Stephen… and his mother. His father, M/Sgt. Edward R. Browne, USMC, was killed in the Pacific during World War II.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

In 1950, Edward was a newspaper carrier who lived with his widowed mother Germaine, sister Patricia, and his mother’s sisters Marguerite and Ruth de Lesseps.

His father was a Marine Corps sergeant who was captured at Corregidor in 1942. He died as a prisoner when the Arisan Maru was sunk on October 24, 1944.

Photographs

Photo submitted by: Betsy Browne and the Entire Browne Family - dlh - hoosierfaces@att.net

Photo submitted by: Betsy Browne and the Entire Browne Family - dlh - hoosierfaces@att.net

From the November 1967 issue of _Shipmate_.

Remembrances

From The Wall USA:

I would like his widow and any of his children to know that in over 20 years of education, that Cpt Browne was the most prepared and most effective instructor that I ever had. He was my main instructor when I attended the Artillery Officer Basic Course at Ft. Sill in January 1962. Al Girolamo, October 20, 2013

One of the finest men I’ve ever known. Captain Browne was my C.O.. Next to my father, he was the finest man I’ve ever known. He was fair and direct. He demanded competence and focus from everyone who served under him. I think, of him nearly every day. Semper Fidelis Michael Ryerson, July 27, 2002

ED, You are well remembered for the friend and patriot you were. HENRY MILLER, USNA CLASSMATE and FRIEND, July 04, 2003

Honors

The child development center at Camp Pendleton, CA, is named for Ed.¹

References