In Memory of
U.S. Navy Machinist’s Mate First Class
Stanley Irvin Brown
Wolsey, South Dakota
Beadle County
March 5, 1922 – October 19, 1944
Killed in Action at Leyte, Philippines aboard the USS Ross

Stanley Irvin Brown was born March 5, 1922, at Wolsey,
South Dakota, to Gay and Ossie Hamby Brown. He had three sisters: Mavis, Ethel,
and Leola, and a half-sister, Denise Balvin. Stanley was raised and educated in
Wolsey. While he was in school, Stanley played basketball and was in FFA.
In June of 1939, when Stanley was seventeen, he enlisted in
the Navy. At eighteen he signed on for foreign service and was assigned to the
USS Omaha and spent the next three years in Central and South America. In
December of 1942, Machinist’s Mate Stanley Brown was home on leave. After that
he was transferred to the USS Turner and then later was assigned to a
different destroyer, the USS Ross.
On October 19, 1944, during the invasion of Leyte,
Philippines, Machinist’s Mate Stanley Brown was killed in action. From the
ship’s commander came these words: “Your son was in charge of the forward engine
room prior to our first damage on October 19. He remained on station and bravely
carried on until damage was received at his station. I know he had little or no
suffering for he was killed instantly. His body was recovered October 22 and he
was buried at sea near Leyte, Philippine Islands, at the same time as several
other shipmates.” Stanley is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila
American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
At the time of his death, Stanley was survived by his
mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Balvin; and his sisters, Mavis , Ethel
(Boyle), Leola (Hartley), and Denise. His father, Gay, and an infant brother
preceded him in death.
This entry was
respectfully submitted by Sheila Hansen, Fallen Sons State Coordinator,
Spearfish, SD. Information for this entry was provided by newspaper clippings,
an application for a SD veteran’s bonus payment, and by Denise Balvin Klicker,
Wolsey, SD, half-sister of Stanley Brown.
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