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BORN
1919
DIED
2024
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Charles Brown Obituary
Charles Darling Brown
May 4, 1919 - Dec. 7, 1941
ARCOLA - Charles Darling Brown, age 22, of Arcola, IL, was killed during the surprise attacks at the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941.
A graveside service with Navy Funeral Honors will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, April 20,2024, at Arcola Township Cemetery in Arcola, IL. Reverend Ron Dickinson will officiate. Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, located at 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL, 61938, is in charge of services.
Charles was born on May 4, 1919, in Bourbon Township in Douglas County, IL, to the late James A. and Lillie M. Brown (Wellbaum). He is survived by two great-nieces: Sherry Beech and husband Abrom of Charleston, IL, and Sharon Trimble and significant other Tim Shaw of Mattoon, IL; two great-great nieces: Ariana Quarles and husband Juan of Chicago, IL, Shawna Jones and husband Scott of Mattoon, IL; and one great-great nephew, Kevin Trimble and wife Renee of Baton Rouge, LA.
Charles is preceded in death by his nine sisters: Allie May "Dot" Janes (Floyd), Celta Flo Janes (Harold), Freda Lytle (Harry), Gladys Collier (Fred), Ruby Doyle (Ed), Ada Elder (Delmar), Lois Combest (Bill), Juanita Anderson (Hap), Sylvia Wright (Dale); and three brothers: Leland James (Della Mae), Frederick James (Alma), and Harry James (Doris); niece, Rose James; and many extended family members.
Charles enlisted in the U.S. Navy on May 13, 1938, in St. Louis, MO, and reported for duty aboard the USS West Virginia on September 1, 1938. He was honorably serving our country as an Electrician's Mate Third Class (EM3c) when he was killed in action from the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The crew sustained 106 casualties during the attack and 25 remained "missing in action." Sadly, EM3c Brown remains were not identified for numerous years and later buried as an unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
In 2017, the Defense PWO/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) personnel exhumed 35 unknowns and with forensic and scientific analytical capabilities, EM3c Brown was able to be identified.
After 82 years, Charles Darling Brown will finally be laid to rest with his family and loved ones who missed him sorely and thought of him often. The family of Charles would like to thank the United States Navy and community for bringing Charles home and giving him a hero's memorial.
Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in his honor or share a memory with the family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Charles Brown
3 Entries
The Chief Rick Stone and Family Charitable Foundation
April 21, 2024
"His Lord said to him, Well done, you good and faithful servant..." Matthew 25:21.
Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Charles Darling Brown boarded the USS West Virginia as a member of the battleship´s crew on 1 September 1938. He was on board the West Virginia when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. After the attack EM3c Brown's body could not be identified and he was listed as "Missing in Action" (MIA). Em3c Brown's brother was also on board the USS West Virginia and survived the attack. While at the Department of Defense in January 2012, retired Police Chief Rick Stone prepared reports on all of the West Virginia´s MIA´s using the Random Incident Statistical Correlation (RISC) System which he had created as a member of the Dallas Police Department. RISC listed EM3c Brown as a Most Likely Match to multiple West Virginia "Unknowns" buried the Punchbowl Cemetery in Honolulu, Hawaii, including Unknown X-143. On 13 June 2017, after over five years, the Department of Defense finally decided to act on Chief Stone's recommendations and began disinterring all of the USS West Virginia Unknowns. Researchers from the Chief Rick Stone and Family Charitable Foundation, using advanced law enforcement investigative techniques and sophisticated technologies not available at the Department of Defense (DoD), continued to research EM3c Brown's case. In October 2020, EM3c Brown's family contacted the Foundation for a comprehensive "Family Report" which narrowed the list of Most Likely Matches to only two Punchbowl "Unknowns", including Unknown X-143. The report was again offered to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). EM3c Brown was recovered from the grave site in the Punchbowl Cemetery indicated by Chief Stone´s research in 2012 and his identification by the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory was officially announced on 11 May 2021. DPAA finally confirmed that EM3c Brown was Unknown X-143 on 22 July 2022.
Welcome home Sailor! We share the joy of your family in your return! God Bless you and thanks to ALL who never forgot you and your service to our country!
Eli Singer
April 19, 2024
Rest your oar, shipmate. We have the watch. Great-great nephew, ITSC(ss) USN RET Eli Singer.
Ron Seaman
April 18, 2024
Thank you for your service and being a part of our nation's greatest generation. So glad that you will now be back home in Illinois and that I was able to learn of this historic event.
Your first cousin, twice removed.
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