Jesse Brown

Jesse Brown
United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs
In office January 22, 1993 – July 3, 1997
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Anthony Principi (Acting)
Succeeded by	Hershel Gober (Acting)
Personal details
Born	March 27, 1944 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	August 15, 2002 (aged 58) Warrenton, Virginia, U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Sylvia Scott
Children	2
Alma mater	City Colleges of Chicago Roosevelt University Catholic University of America
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1963–1965
Rank	Corporal
Battles/wars	Vietnam War

Jesse Brown (March 27, 1944 – August 15, 2002) was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps who served as United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997.

Early life

Jesse Brown was born on March 27, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan,^[1] to Lucille Marsh Brown and David Brown. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois,^[1] and graduated with honors from the City Colleges of Chicago.^[2] Married to Sylvia Scott Brown, they had two children, N. Scott Brown and Carmen Brown.

Military service

He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1963,^[2] and served as a Marine in the Vietnam War, reaching the rank of Corporal. He was seriously injured in 1965 near Da Nang when he was shot in the right arm, which was left partially paralyzed.^[2]

Returning to Chicago, in 1967 Brown became active in the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), a service and advocacy organization founded in 1920 to assist disabled veterans. He began taking classing at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Moving to the DAV's national office in Washington, D.C., he began taking classes at The Catholic University of America.^[2]

Veterans service

DAV

In 1967, Brown joined the staff of the Disabled American Veterans. He served in various supervisory roles with the DAV in the 1970s and 1980s:^[2]

• 1973 — supervisor of National Service Office in Washington, D.C.
• 1976 — supervisor of National Appeals Office
• 1981 — Chief of Claims, National Service and Legislative Headquarters
• 1983 — Deputy National Service Director

In 1988, Brown became the DAV's first African-American executive director, serving until 1993.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

In January 1993, Brown was selected by President Bill Clinton to the post of Secretary of Veterans Affairs,^[3] serving until 1997. He was the first African American to hold that post. During his tenure, Brown expanded the services offered to female veterans, homeless veterans, and veterans who were ill due to chemical exposures in Vietnam or the Gulf War. After he resigned as secretary, Brown founded a consulting firm, Brown and Associates.^[4]

Disabled veterans' memorial

Brown was one of three people who provided the impetus for the creation of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, a national memorial in Washington, D.C., which honors disabled veterans. In 1998, philanthropist Lois Pope realized there was no memorial to disabled veterans in the nation's capital. Although she did not know him, Pope called Brown's Veterans Affairs office to plead for a memorial. Pope called every day for the next six months, until finally Brown's secretary put her call through.^[5][6] Brown agreed to support legislation establishing a memorial.^[7] Brown introduced Pope to Art Wilson,^[5] the National Adjutant (e.g., chief executive officer) of the DAV. The DAV was itself not a nonprofit, and thus Pope and Wilson agreed that a new foundation, the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Foundation (AVDLMF; also known as the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation) should be created.^[5] Brown left office in 1997. Brown, Pope, and Wilson incorporated the foundation in 1998, and Wilson was named its president.^[8] Brown served as the executive director of the American Disabled Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Foundation until his death.

The three individuals and their supporters began lobbying Congress to win passage of the necessary federal legislation.^[6] Congress quickly approved the bill, and President Clinton signed it into law (Public Law 106-348) on October 24, 2000.^[9][10] After a decade of fundraising, the memorial began construction in 2011. It will be dedicated on October 5, 2014.^[11] Two quotations by Brown will be featured on the memorial.^[12]

Death

Brown died in Warrenton, Virginia on August 15, 2002, of lower motor neuron syndrome. He had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, since 1999.^[1][4] His funeral was held at the Washington National Cathedral, and he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.^[2]

He was survived by his wife, Sylvia, and his children Carmen and Scott.^[1]

The DAV established the Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship in his honor. A single $20,000 scholarship is awarded each year to a young individual who has worked to assist disabled veterans and advanced the cause of disabled veterans' rights.^[13] In May 2004, the West Side VA Medical Center in Chicago was renamed the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in his honor.^[14]

See also

• Disabled American Veterans
• Vietnam Veterans of America

Notes

1. "Jesse Brown, 58, Ex-Marine Who Headed Veterans Dept". The New York Times. August 17, 2002. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
2. "Jesse Brown, 58; Ex-Marine Headed VA Under Clinton". Associated Press. August 17, 2002. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
3. Barringer, Felicty (December 18, 1992). "The Transition:Clinton Selects Ex-Mayor for H.U.D. and an Ex-Marine for Veterans Affairs". The New York Times. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
4. "Jesse Brown, Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Succumbs at 58 - National Report". Jet. September 2, 2002. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
5. Smith, Thom (April 19, 2005). "Lois Pope's Philosophy in Life? 'Bite Off More Than You Can Chew, and Chew It'". Palm Beach Post.
6. Ferris, Kevin (July 13, 2007). "She Works to Honor Disabled Vets". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
7. Braun, Bob (May 28, 2007). "A Public Tribute to War's Disabled". Newark Star-Ledger.
8. Wilborn, Thom (May 2, 2013). "Architect of Modern DAV Retires". DAV News. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
9. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 2007, p. 1.
10. National Park Service 2005, p. 1—8.
11. "The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C. Sets October 5, 2014 Dedication Date." Press release. American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Foundation. March 18, 2014.
12. National Capital Planning Commission 2010, p. 15.
13. "Jesse Brown Memorial Youth Scholarship Program". Disabled American Veterans. 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
14. Bierma, Nathan (July 14, 2004). "Veterans' health-care site in transition". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 2, 2016.

References

• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (September 17, 2007). Extension of Legislative Authority for Memorial Honoring Veterans, S.Rep. 110-165 (Report). U.S. Senate. 110th Cong., 2d sess. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
• National Capital Planning Commission (June 24, 2010). American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, C Street, SW, 2nd Street, SW and Washington Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. NCPC File No. 6179 (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: National Capital Planning Commission. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
• National Park Service (June 2005). American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial: Environmental Assessment (Report). Washington, D.C.: National Park Service. Retrieved April 7, 2014.