Fletcher Brown may well be the first person to ever decline a major U.S. Military award. His award card notes: “Brown had returned his Navy Cross and citation to the Navy Department. He apparently did not wish to accept them for some reason. On 9 October 1959, Miss Griffin, BuPers Dec. and Med., sent a Navy Cross and duplicate citation to the Commandant, U.S.C.G., for further transmittal to Brown.”
Sponsored by:
Fletcher
W.
Brown
Awards Received
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Navy Cross
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Navy Cross
Service:
United States Coast GuardRank:
First LieutenantDivision:
U.S.S. SenecaAction Date:
September 16, 1918
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Fletcher W. Brown, United States Coast Guard, for distinguished and heroic service in the line of his profession as Officer of the U.S.S. SENECA in volunteering to lead a party of men to board the British steamer WELLINGTON, following the torpedoing of that vessel on 16 September 1918, and her abandonment by her crew. Lieutenant Brown and the men from SENECA’s crew, with a few of the original crew of the WELLINGTON, persisted heroically in their attempt to save the WELLINGTON, and finally abandoned the ship only when she was on the point of sinking in a heavy sea.