Frank Brown
Technical Sergeant Frank Brown, VMB-612, U.S. Marine Corps
Technical Sergeant Frank Brown was born in England in 1917. His family came to the USA in 1924. Sometime before 1930, his father passed away. In April of 1930, he and his mother Mary were lodging at 1328 Chase Street, the home of George and Elsa Baker. George Baker was a shipwright who had come with his wife from England in 1924 as well. His mother Mary was working as a helper in a bakery. He and his mother and a niece, Mary Taggart, moved into the then-new Westfield Acres Housing Project in Camden, NJ, shortly after it opened in 1938, and were there when the Census was taken in 1940.
Technical Sergeant Frank Brown entered the United States Marine Corps in November of 1942. He qualified for flight duty, and trained at the Naval Air Station at Pensacola, FL. When sent overseas he served with Marine Bomber Squadron 612 (VMB-612) alongside another Camden man, Joseph John Bottalico Jr., who was killed in action in March of 1945. Frank Brown had won the Air Medal with Gold Star and the Purple Heart before his plane, a North American PBJ-1H bomber — the naval version of the B-25 Mitchell bomber — was declared missing on July 27, 1945. His placement on the missing in action list was reported in the August 21, 1945 edition of the Camden Courier-Post.
Frank Brown was declared dead on July 28, 1946. He was survived by his mother, Mary Brown, who was still residing in the Westfield Acres Housing Project, at 321 Beideman Avenue, Camden, NJ. He is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Letter from Frank Brown to Waldemar 'Bud' Diehl
Dec. 20, 1944
In the Marianas
Dear Bud & Family,
A few lines to let you know I’m away. Things in camp are pretty well, quite simplified etc & the lovely Xmas Card. May I in return wish the Diehl family best & well health throughout the coming year & that all is well.
Heard from Bill T. yesterday. It appears he is happy in his married life and after I don’t think he would type it up for anything in the world. They are together in complete accord and I wish that it continues in and that it will help pull back to each equally beautifully & gratefully.
Tommy wrote a letter of late — I shall probably hear from him soon. By his last letter, he says he likes England & is moving around his own country. Now although he can see his share of things — I’d be glad to get back to the good old place. Here there are thousands with the same thoughts in mind.
Our outfit has had a slight bit of traveling in the past 2 or 3 months — short stop in Hawaii after leaving California and the beautiful Hollywood. It was in Honolulu that we met up with my friends. We sat around and had a couple of cups of tea drink in a Chinese restaurant, then saw a couple of shows on the stage. We first landed a month or two later on a named island. It was easy to hold a rifle — but I couldn’t compose my first after I got back to the barracks.
All and glory rolled around on our own ship. I left my good clothes here — we are on a CB Battalion combined that with our outfit. The Marshalls proved to be on our ground — days were delightful for us in the break out of the band — just turned back to the country the whole thing just turned out to be the brand. Sometimes we hang over the sea and watch the beautiful sky flying away. And I think it will go on forever. It continues and there’s something that seems to be everywhere around.
It might when you brought your mattress to lie on because it was too hard lately. I must admit — this I write.
It is a perfect climate & enjoyed very much. It is good & solid. I’m told a lot about a half of a globe instead of a half year. The island itself isn’t bad except when it rains, as a whole, plenty of mud around. Fortunately it only manages to give me a once daily injection to each beautiful, good sunshine & wonderful good condition.
As you have at a much summary of our doing without railing, mailing racks. Sometimes I wonder what is a need & what isn’t. No sir it is confusion. All the best with very best wishes — season greetings to the boys — health & happiness to all.
Your friend,
Frank