Cecil Brown, Jr. Collection, 1939-1994

Collection

Identifier: 000005

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Cecil Brown, Jr. Collection, 1939-1994, contains letters, photographs, military documents, manuals, reunion programs, newspaper clippings, and a scrapbook. These materials are related to his service in the United States Marines during World War II. During this time, he served in American Samoa, Guadalcanal, New Zealand, and Tarawa and was wounded in Saipan. The collection contains fifty-six letters, over one hundred photographs from a parade in La Jolla, California, and from his travel while at war, many military documents such as duty lists, roosters, and newsletters, two manuals dealing with Japanese soldiers, two reunion program, newspaper clippings, newsletters, shooting cards, and a scrapbook that contains additional letters, newspaper clippings, military documents, and photographs.

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within 1939 - 1994
Creation: 1939
Creation: 1941 - 1945
Creation: 1957
Creation: 1988
Creation: 1994 - 1995

Creator

Brown, Cecil G., Jr., 1917-2014 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection in any form must be obtained from the National Museum of the Pacific War, Center for Pacific War Studies.

Biographical / Historical

Cecil Brown Jr., 1917-2014, served in the United States Marine Corps. He was part of the Regimental Weapons Company, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. Brown was stationed in San Diego for boot camp when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. His division was sent to American Samoa on the USS Matsonia. After that, he spent time in Guadalcanal, defending Henderson Field. Later, Brown was sent to New Zealand for training and preparation for the invasion of Tarawa. Brown was part of the first wave of the invasion of Tarawa. He was then sent to Hawaii for training to be sent to Saipan. When he landed in Saipan, he fell ill and quickly became injured. He was transported to the hospital at Pearl Harbor and then back to the States to Shumaker to receive the care he needed. Following his injury, Brown was stationed as a platoon’s commanding officer at Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Once the war was over, Brown entered the pharmacy business with his father. In his downtime, he liked to raise ornamental trees.

Extent

3 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Separated Materials

3D artifacts have been seperated from this collection, including a canteen, a fuse, a canister, two garrison caps, a jacket, and two pairs of trousers. Contact the archivist for further information.