EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of a weekly series published each Monday between Memorial Day and Veterans Day honoring local veterans.

Correspondent photo / Nancilynn Gatta
Henry Brown of Warren, left, and his son, Rev. Eric Brown Sr., also of Warren, hold a painting of the four generations of Browns who served in the United States Navy. The four generations are, from left, Bill Miller, Henry Brown, Rev. Eric Brown Sr. and Eric Brown Jr.

WARREN — Serving in the United States Navy is a family tradition for the Brown family of Warren.

Four generations chose a military stint in the same branch beginning with Thurman “Bill” Miller, his son, Henry Brown, his son, Rev. Eric Brown Sr. and his son, Eric Brown Jr.

“I joined the Navy because I did not want to be drafted into the Army,” Henry Brown said.. “I also joined with my best friend, Ervin “Butch’ Bell.”

Although he graduated from Newton Falls High School in 1961, he was not yet 18.

“My mom had to sign the paperwork so I could enter the military,” he said.

His son, Rev. Eric Brown Sr. had a different reason for joining the Navy.

“I wanted to get away from him,” he said as he jokingly pointed toward his dad.

His father acknowledged that he was strict with his four children, but three of them graduated from college and the fourth found a career in the trades.

After graduating in 1983 from Victory Christian High School, Eric Brown Sr. checked into joining a different branch of the service, but they wanted him to do a year of college first.

“I did not want to wait. The Navy recruiter saw me and asked, ‘What’s wrong?’ I told him and he said he could sign me up and get me in faster, but I might have to change the field that I wanted to work in. I originally thought I would go into aviation,” he said.

Both Henry Brown and Eric Brown Sr. left Ohio to do their basic training. Henry Brown went to Naval Station Great Lakes (Chicago), while his son went to the Naval Training Center Orlando (Florida).

Basic training took eight weeks. After that, Henry Brown stayed at Great Lakes and went to radar school to become a radar technician. Eric Brown Sr. went to seaman’s school.

“My first ship assignment was out of Long Beach, California,” Henry said. “I had been on a boat fishing with my grandfather in Maryland, but this was a different type of boat.”

His ship was part of a battle group.

“I had three-hour shifts navigating the ship then we would have a break,”he said.

During his time at sea, he was away from the United States during a historic moment in our country.

“I was in the South Pacific on a ship when we heard that President (John) Kennedy had been killed. I remember seeing him campaign in Warren when he ran for president but, as a kid still trying to figure it out, I had no idea about the politics of this. I just kept doing my job. It was a shock, especially since I had seen him in Warren,” Henry said.

Kennedy’s assassination changed military service for Henry Brown.

“President Johnson wanted to downsize the military. If you went in at 17, then you got out before you were 21. I served two years and nine months,” he said.

Eric Brown Sr.’s service was much longer. He served eight years active duty and 16 years in the Naval Reserve for a total of 24 years of military duty.

His first ship was the USS White Plains and he was sent to Yokosuka, Japan.

“We were a supply ship and our summer home was Guam,” Eric Brown said. His initial job was cleaning the ship, but he put in for radio school.

“I went to school for nine months in San Diego, which became my home port,” he said.

He was then assigned to the USS Durham, an amphibious cargo ship. After eight years on active duty, Eric Brown Sr. went back to Ohio, where he joined the Naval Reserve out of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

Upon his return, he completed training in barber school, received a degree in information technology from Youngstown State University and married his wife, Christol, in 2000. He also became an ordained pastor.

“I didn’t get into ministry until 2000, when I finally answered the call. I was licensed and ordained. In 2008, I took my first position as a senior pastor at Community Church of God in Campbell,” he said.

He was there for eight years.

Although he was in the Naval Reserve stateside, world events changed where Eric Brown would do his military service.

“After 9/11, our group was activated. In 2009, I was activated and started training to go to Afghanistan and I went there in 2010,” Eric Brown said.

While in Afghanistan, he did double duty.

“I was the communication gopher for a joint military team. I had a crew that was working for me and took care of all of the communications, computer work and all the equipment,” he said.

They were boots on the ground and took more than 150 rocket attacks.

“The good thing was that no one on our team was killed. There were a few injuries. We were on base along with the Polish Army,” Brown said.

When the chaplain left, he stepped in to take over until someone else was assigned there. He held service and bible study.

“I left Afghanistan in time to see my son, Eric Brown Jr., graduate from basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes to become a military police officer. He graduated from Warren G. Harding High School, went a semester to college and decided it wasn’t for him. I said, ‘What are you going to do?’ He had seen me leave for drill weekends, so he was aware of the Navy,” Eric Brown Sr. said.

Eric Brown Jr. was selected as one of only 200 people from the entire United States Navy to be canine trained. He was assigned a German Shepherd. Prior to leaving for Afghanistan, the dog and the trainer were tested.

“The dog had already done two tours of duty. He was an explosives dog. He had PTSD. The dog failed, so my son did not get shipped overseas. He got to keep the dog as a pet,” Eric Brown Sr. said.

Henry Brown used the GI Bill to further his education.

“I got an associate’s degree in social studies from Kent State Trumbull. My dad, his mother, my wife and all my children were at my graduation,” Henry Brown said.

He became the Union Health and Safety Representative at Delphi Packard. He retired in 1995 after 30 years there.

Eric Brown Sr. left the United States Navy in 2011. He operates CBS Barber Shop with his wife and brother. He is also the pastor of York Avenue Church of God in Warren.

Both men said were glad they served their country and for the experiences they had, including travel to such places as Hawaii, Guam, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Diego Garcia, Afghanistan and Australia.

“All my needs were met when I joined the Navy. My basic needs of medical exams, food and clothing. I had a travel paycheck,” Henry Brown said.

At a glance

Henry Brown

AGE: 82

HOMETOWN: Warren

SERVICE BRANCH: Navy

OCCUPATION: Retired from Delphi Packard after 30 years

FAMILY: wife, Ceola (married in 1964); three sons and one daughter; and 11 grandchildren

Eric Brown Sr.

AGE: 60

HOMETOWN: Warren

SERVICE BRANCH: Navy (eight years) and Naval Reserve (16 years)

MILITARY HONORS: Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device with Silver Hourglass, two National Defense Service Medals, five Navy Achievement Medals, three Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Overseas Service Medal, two Battle “E” Ribbons, Expert Pistol Shot Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon, GWOT Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Combat Action Badge, NATO Medal, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist certification

OCCUPATION: owner of CBS Barbershop in Warren, pastor of York Avenue Church of God, Warren

FAMILY: wife, Christol; three daughters; one son; and two grandsons