ALLEN TANNER BROWN Jr.

Allen Tanner Brown Jr. passed away Thursday, December 8, 2011, in Richland, Washington, surrounded by his family. Apparently, he had a tee time Friday morning with his brothers. He was born on January 6, 1918, in Jackson county Alabama. He was the oldest son of seven children born to Allen Tanner and Vera Odessa (Spradley) Brown. Called A.T. by his family, he graduated from high school in Birmingham, Alabama.


He worked as a steam engine operator and was known for taking his baby sister, with bottles and diapers, on dates with his girlfriends. On June 6, 1941, at the age of 23, he was drafted into the Army and stationed with the 4th cavalry at Fort Meade in Sturgis, South Dakota. He traveled the country with the 4th, training under different conditions and, after some bad experiences with horses, was trained as a mechanic at Fort Riley, Kansas. There, he met a red head, Alta Hugos, at a USO dance.


Allen spent his time with the cavalry servicing and repairing Harley-Davidson motorcycles and later trucks, halftracks and anything else with an engine. On December 5, 1943, the 4th Cavalry shipped out to England on a fast troop ship named the Highland Chieftain. It was so fast it traveled alone rather than in a convoy. He arrived in England on December 16, and the 4th was immediately reorganized. Allen found himself in troop B, 24th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squad, Mechanized of the 4th Cavalry Group. On D-day, the 4th was assigned to attack German fortifications on the St. Marcouf Islands 6,000 yards off of Utah Beach at 4:30 a.m. on D-day. They were the first allied troops to land on French soil by sea. The Germans had evacuated the islands. Allen, however, was left to drive a truck full of tools and supplies off the front ramp of an LST onto Omaha beach. The 24th went into action on the Cherbourg peninsula closely followed by fighting through the hedgerows of Normandy. They dashed across France and into Belgium on September 3rd. Twelve days later, they reached Germany and the Siegfried line. As a mechanic, Allen was called upon to maintain and repair vehicles to keep them in action. This often called for traveling out to find disabled equipment. On December 16, 1944, Dad and a buddy were out looking for a vehicle when the Germans launched the Battle of the Bulge. When prodded, Dad would tell his tale of trying to get back to camp. They made it after deciding to ignore the directions of the MPs, which he later learned were German agents sent in to misdirect reinforcements. Dad didn't talk much about the war. He told of sewing down between Army blankets to make a sleeping bag. He was warm all winter. He talked about leaving his foxhole, breaking out the stove and preparing dinner while being shelled by German 88s. Dad didn't like missing a meal and knew the shells could not get down into their valley. Their trajectory was too flat. Dad was proud of the 24th cavalry; they earned many unit citations and awards and he kept them running. But, he lost a lot of good friends.


When the war ended, Dad had points and left the Army on November 9, 1945. He went home to Birmingham. Allen's sister Juanita and husband Edward told him he could get a job "here in Richland, Washington." He left for Richland and stopped for a couple of days in Manhattan, Kansas, to see that red head, Alta. When he knocked on the door and her mother Francis answered, she said, "I remember you. You're the one that doesn't like chicken!" After a few days, he continued on to Richland and a found a job, phoned Alta at work and proposed. She had to sit down but, she said "yes."


They lived in Richland for over 60+ years. Allen worked at Hanford as a power operator at 100-H and 100-N. He was interested in cars, home repair, carpentry, bowling and golf. Golf was his favorite and, he was good at it. He played at the West Richland golf course, moved to Sham-na-Pum when it opened and played and repaired golf carts there until the freeway went through. Then he played at Horn Rapids.


He retired from Hanford after 28 years and played more golf. Al, as he was known on the golf course, has 12 holes in one and shot his age so many times we lost count. He didn't like camping. Said he got enough of that in Europe.


He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Alta; his children Tanner (Kathy), and Jane (George) Dowling; his brother Gayle and his sister Sylvia (Patrick). He is also survived by grandchildren Lori (Dan) Wyatt, Coriene (Bart) Schorer, Chris Bensch, Erin (Jeff) Hosler, and Lindsey Brown and 5 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers and sisters Juanita (Hilgeman), Stanley, Felcie (Wells), and Leslie.


A memorial will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland on Thursday. Open viewing from noon until 1:30 with a service at 2:00 p.m. followed by light refreshments at Einan's Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your favorite charity.