35th Infantry (Cacti) Regiment Association


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  CPL Otto Vern Brown    In memory of our fallen brother

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother"



Able Company
35th Infantry Regiment
Korean War


"Not For Fame or Reward
Not For Place or For Rank
But In Simple Obedience To
Duty as They Understood It"

National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal United Nations Korean Service Medal Republic of Korea War Service Medal



The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, CPL Otto Vern Brown, who died in the service of his country on July 28th, 1953 in South Korea. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms Fire. At the time of his death Otto was 23 years of age. He was from Red Oak, Oklahoma.

The decorations earned by CPL Otto Vern Brown include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.


Corporal Brown was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He died of small arms fire on July 28, 1953 near Nung-Dong, South Korea. Corporal Brown was awarded the Combat Infantrymans Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

BURIAL LOCATION: RED OAK CITY CEMETERY, RED OAK, OK


(From Fred Miller)
First a little historical background. We (Able Company, 35th.), were at Camp Casey, then a small one company reserve area composed of tents. It was located on the South bank of the Imjin River about 3/4 mile West of the Spoonbill bridge which led to a village we called Little Chicago.

I was the section leader for the mortar section of the 4th platoon. Brown was a member of a rifle platoon, I got to know him as men of my platoon sometimes volunteered for night patrols, we would get a BAR man and a lead scout from a rifle platoon. Those experiences taught me that when in a static situation night patrols, (ambushes, bunker busting, prisoner seeking, and simple recon), were likely one of the least pleasant duties.

ABOUT Cpl. Brown: I dont know what went into the companys daily morning reports or to higher echelon, so I shall not go to great detail, but the following comments are accurate.

He was as I told you, a superb soldier. . . he VOLUNTEERED often for lead scout, which required knowledge, skill, steady nerves, and great courage! I couldnt begin to know the number of times, but I can tell you he was well known and respected by his fellow soldiers

The fact that a GOOD man died 5 days after the cease fire brought even greater sadness to those of us who knew and survived him.

I dont know the service definition of the other causes, but Cpl. Brown died from small arms fire near the Spoonbill bridge.

I hope this will be of some help to you in your efforts and perhaps even some late term comfort and pride to members of Browns family.

Most sincerely,

Fred J. Miller (discharged 10/2/54 as Sgt/Mjr, 8th. Div. Inf. School)