Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Staff Sergeant

    Regiment:

    143d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    36th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    August 26, 1944

    Headquarters, 36th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 14 (January 26, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Fenton E. Brown (ASN: 12096809), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action on 26 August 1944 in France. Enemy infantry troops, supported by two tanks, launched a determined counterattack against the battalion defenses and threatened to break through the friendly lines. The leader of the heavy machine gun platoon of Company D was wounded, and Sergeant Brown immediately assumed command. Fearlessly exposing himself to the hostile fire, he directed his men in increasing their fire power in an effort to drive back the attackers. While the attention of his platoon was focused on the enemy to the front, Sergeant Brown, constantly on the alert for a surprise assault, spotted three hostile soldiers stealthily approaching from the right flank. He swiftly opened fire with his rifle, killed two of the enemy and wounded the third. The hostile tanks charged the machine gun emplacements and rendered the position untenable. Sergeant Brown skillfully maneuvered his platoon into a new position and again directed effective fire against the enemy. He maintained the fire of his platoon until the battalion could reorganize, and, under his outstanding leadership, the unit inflicted 25 casualties on the hostile force, enabling the friendly troops to regain their former positions. Sergeant Brown was killed in action during a subsequent engagement.