CLEARFIELD – The family of a local Korean War hero, Private First Class Melvin Brown, who was killed in combat 66 years ago, has made Clearfield County guardian of his Medal of Honor.
Brown’s medal was unveiled in its special display case located in the lobby area at the annex building of the Clearfield County Courthouse during a ceremony Friday afternoon.
Brown was born Feb. 22, 1931 and grew up in Mahaffey, Clearfield County. At the age 17, he enlisted in the military and at the age of 19, his unit was deployed to Korea.
Brown, who was in Company D, 8th Engineer Combat Battalion, was a portrait of true heroism Sept. 4, 1950 near Kasan, Korea. His medal citation stated he “distinguished himself for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy.”
While his unit was securing a hill, the enemy waged a counter-attack. Brown took a position on a high wall, firing back single-handedly with his rifle and when he exhausted all of his ammunition, he began tossing hand grenades at the enemy.
When his supply of grenades ran out, his comrades began tossing others to him. He left his position to brave fire to retrieve and throw their grenades at the enemy.
Amidst the enemy’s repeated assaults, Brown relied upon his entrenching tool from his pack to beat back and to inspire his unit to defeat all counter-attacks and win.
“Unfortunately, he was wounded during the fight and succumbed to his wounds,” said Commissioner John. A. Sobel. Brown was missing in action for a period of time and officially killed Sept. 5, 1950.
Brown’s family was posthumously presented with the highest military award, a Congressional Medal of Honor, the year following his death by then-President Harry S. Truman at a ceremony at the White House.
Brown’s niece, Sheri Power, on Friday presented the medal to be displayed in the lobby of Clearfield County’s annex building. It will remain on display there unless the family ever wishes for it to be returned to them, said Sobel.
Sobel and fellow Commissioner Tony Scotto said it was an honor for the county to be able to display Brown’s Medal of Honor.
“We would like to thank Mr. Brown for his bravery and his ultimate sacrifice for our country,” said Scotto. “I think this display will remind us that bravery comes from all parts of the United States.
He continued: “It doesn’t matter if you are from a big city or small town. Once you enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces, you fight to protect our great nation with bravery.”
Power said it was with great pride and privilege to honor her late mother’s wish for the Medal of Honor awarded to her brother, Brown, to be displayed publically to tell the story of his gallantry and bravery that day at Kasan.
According to her, the family feels his medal is a representation of all enlisted military service members. “It shows by example how personal courage and selflessness are what our military is comprised of.”
The ceremony to unveil Brown’s Medal of Honor was attended by commissioners, Sobel and Scotto, Coroner Mike Morris and Lorraine Bauman of the Veterans Affairs office on behalf of VA Director Betina Nicklas.
It was also attended by U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, State Reps. Tommy Sankey and Matt Gabler, Sgt. Major (retired) Morton S. Landy, commander, and Mike McCracken, senior vice commander, Mahaffey VFW, and Mahaffey Mayor Thomas Bell.
“[Brown] is a true definition of providing the last full measure,” said Thompson. “This is a young man at 19 who 66 years ago left Clearfield County and found himself in the middle of a great war, battle.
“…Frequently, privates and generals talk about what motivates people to put themselves in harm’s way for others. This really portrays that. It’s about protecting their fellow soldiers – their comrades – and that’s just what Private First Class Brown did in truly what’s a definition of a last full measure.”
“It’s truly remarkable. Your mother’s wish is also truly remarkable because these Congressional Medals of Honor are personal, and no one would ever criticize a family for keeping that intimate within the family and protecting it at all costs and measures.”
Thompson thanked Power and her family for sharing Brown’s medal, the county officials for embracing the opportunity of being the “guardian” of this special display and both for giving the community a place to come to remember the story of Pfc. Brown.
Sankey asked Brown’s family to “keep the medal here.” He went on to say because “I want to bring my children here and my children’s children here and tell them how in small Mahaffey in little Clearfield County, Pa., which is literally in the middle of nowhere, has real heroes.”
“I was listening to your story, and it’s an amazing story. It was giving me chills, and I have never met him. It has to be shared and we need to keep it here to share it with people every day. This is a Congressional Medal of Honor and this is a hero.”