Honoring Our Heroes

Major John A. Brown: Age 69

Major John A. Brown served 20 years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force and 13 years teaching AF JROTC. His Air Force Service Code (AFSC) included Academic Program Manager, Command and Control Operations, and Missile Operations and ICBM Missile Combat Crew. He received the following medals, commendations, ribbons and awards: Combat Readiness Medal, Air Force Overseas Tour, Longevity Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and the Air Force Training Ribbon.

Major Brown was born July 11, 1955, to his parents, Mr. Heywood Holmes and Dr. Elizabeth Holmes, in Greenville, South Carolina. He was reared in West Columbia, SC and graduated from Brookland-Cacye High School in 1973. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1977 with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration - Accounting. While in college, he was active in the Association of African American Students serving as its president. He started the organization, Student Christian Fellowship, participated in its choir, A Touch of Faith, and was selected for Who’s Who at the University of South Carolina, and the National Social Register. Having participated in Air Force R.O.T.C. while in college, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force at the time of his university graduation. He received a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University in 1982.

Major Brown’s military career encompassed his receiving assignments requiring his leadership skills and his ability to work with people. His first duty assignment was at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, for training in missile operations. He became a missileer, a highly trained member of the U.S. Air Force who operates underground missile systems and is responsible for running and managing missile operations. He then served for three years at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, where he worked with a missile combat crew as deputy commander and then as commander where he became the youngest commander of the wing. Next, he returned to Vandenberg AFB where he served for one year as an instructor in missile operations and then for four years as a Protocol Officer. Then he served for three years at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, working as Assistant Officer, Operations Officer, Assistant Chief of Training and Base Executive Officer. He successfully filled these positions because of his being a “people person” able to work well with others. Next, he was assigned to Keesler AFB, MS, for training in airfield management. He was stationed at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England where he served a year as the Chief of Airfield Management when Desert Storm, the first Gulf War began. Planes were brought there in preparation for use in the war. He later worked as the Chief of Wing Inspections, Operations Officer and Squadron Commander. After RAF Mildenhall, Major Brown was stationed at Maxwell AFB, AL, where he served as an instructor at the Air Command and Staff College teaching concepts, warfare, etc. He retired from military service at Maxwell AFB July 1, 1998.

After his retirement from military service, Major Brown first worked in Montgomery, AL, for one year as the general manager of Race Trac, a family-owned corporation that operates convenience stores and gasoline stations. He then worked one year as a buyer for Knox Kershaw Corporation, a railroad equipment supplier. Next, he worked for Troy University at Montgomery, AL as the Veteran Affairs Coordinator for one year and then as the Financial Aid Director until 2005. He graduated from the Leadership Elmore County program. He was selected to the Alabama Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapy from 2001-2005. Because of his personal background with participation in R.O.T.C. while a college student and his service in the military, he successfully worked as the Senior Instructor for the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFJROTC) at Wilcox Central High School in Camden, AL, for 13 years during the period of 2007-2020. He received the Golden Apple Award for excellence in the classroom in 2015 and was selected Wilcox County High School Teacher of the Year in 2019. He is currently employed in sales part time in central AL with Jostens, an American manufacturer of high school senior memorabilia of yearbooks, academic regalia, class rings for high schools and colleges and championship rings for sports.

Major Brown and his wife, Lela, have been married 46 years, and they have two children, LeQuana and Eric, and three grandchildren. They are members of the First Methodist Church of Millbrook, AL, where he has served as a member of the Senior Parish Relations Committee and the Board of Trustees, and he has served as an usher. He is a member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) in Montgomery, AL.

Major Brown’s conclusions about what his military service has meant to him are: “It has meant that I have been able to meet people and fulfil the dream of serving my country. was all worthwhile.” He would like people to remember him as a man who loved the Lord and gave his all to helping others.