Theron Hart Brown, IIIPilot & Poet |
Although born in Virginia, Theron Hart Brown, III, appears to have lived for a while in Essex County, New Jersey, prior to attending Duke University.[1] He enlisted in the Marine Corps in the Summer of 1941. He had one brother, Sherwood, who was born in 1926.[2] In the Flight Surgeon’s Log, three city addresses are listed for Theron Brown: Jackson Heights, L.I., N.Y.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Pensacola, Fla. The Jackson Heights address is collaborated by both an announcement of his death noting his mother survived him and lived in Jackson Heights and by a discussion with his deceased brother’s widow, Sandra Brown, who was also from Jackson Heights. The Florida address identifies an Ensign McGrew, (NC) USNR, US Naval Hospital, Nurses Quarters, and raises a possible romantic connection in light of the poem, Bug of Fate. There is no readily discernible link to the Charlotte, NC, address.
According to Doc Livingood’s records, Theron Brown was 26 years old on March 3, 1943; this was not indicated as his date of birth. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on February 1, 1943. On August 23rd, he was promoted to Captain. He is credited with 2 ½ Japanese aircraft shot down and one probable. On September 12, 1943, Captain Theron Brown was shot down while strafing Kahili on the island of Bougainville, in the northern Solomon Islands. The 3rd Combat Tour September 12, 1943, log entry reads:
According to Doc Livingood’s records, Theron Brown was 26 years old on March 3, 1943; this was not indicated as his date of birth. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on February 1, 1943. On August 23rd, he was promoted to Captain. He is credited with 2 ½ Japanese aircraft shot down and one probable. On September 12, 1943, Captain Theron Brown was shot down while strafing Kahili on the island of Bougainville, in the northern Solomon Islands. The 3rd Combat Tour September 12, 1943, log entry reads:
Brown shot down while strafing Kahili. Radioed “losing oil pressure”, - pulled up to 700-1000 ft. and plane went into water – not seen to escape. Time 1730 between Kahili and Shortlands.
Theron Hart Brown, III, was survived by his mother and younger brother, Sherwwod P. Brown. Sherwood Brown died November 22, 1997. Sherwood was survived by his wife, Sandra Brown, and their son, William Hart Brown.
Theron Hart Brown, III, authored many of the poems in Doc Livingood's collection.
Dr. William C. Livingood's collection of poems, with commentary, from his three combat tours with Marine fighter squadron, VMF-213, is entitled The Hell Hawk Poems, and is currently available as an ebook or as a paperback book at Amazon.com, and as an ebook at Smashwords.com, and at Barnes and Noble. The poems in Section A of Doc Livingood's collection seem to be specifically authored by Theron Hart Brown, III. However, some of the poems in sections B and C may have been written by him also.
Dr. William C. Livingood's collection of poems, with commentary, from his three combat tours with Marine fighter squadron, VMF-213, is entitled The Hell Hawk Poems, and is currently available as an ebook or as a paperback book at Amazon.com, and as an ebook at Smashwords.com, and at Barnes and Noble. The poems in Section A of Doc Livingood's collection seem to be specifically authored by Theron Hart Brown, III. However, some of the poems in sections B and C may have been written by him also.
The poem, "A Marine's Prayer," was not found in Doc Livingood's collection but was placed in the Introduction to The Hell Hawk Poems. It was identified as being authored by Theron Hart Brown and was provided by Sandra Brown:
A Marine’s Prayer
Dear God, in a world that’s racked with war,
Let me think of the coming years
When the cannon’s core has ceased its roar,
And the nations dry their tears.
Keep Thou my heart unblasphemed;
And let me live as a man should live
In a fight for the God of Peace.
O Father, grant that I may last
To build the world again
To know, when pestilence is past,
A brotherhood of men.
Bless Thou the aged with Thy light;
Protect our troubled youth;
And let me fight as a man should fight
In a war for the God of Truth
Thy will be done, if Thou decree
That I should die afield
But let me go, face to the foe,
Sustain me lest I yield.
Let no man cry he saw me fly
The battle’s agony;
And let me die as a man should die
In a fight for Liberty.
Footnotes
[1] Doc Livingood recollected that Theron Brown had attended Duke University and his attendance was confirmed by Duke University.
[2] 1930 Census records identified Sherwood P. Brown as Theron’s brother. This was subsequently confirmed by Sandra Brown, Sherwood’s widow, and later found on Duke University's World War II Memorial program for those from Duke University that gave their lives in WWII.
[1] Doc Livingood recollected that Theron Brown had attended Duke University and his attendance was confirmed by Duke University.
[2] 1930 Census records identified Sherwood P. Brown as Theron’s brother. This was subsequently confirmed by Sandra Brown, Sherwood’s widow, and later found on Duke University's World War II Memorial program for those from Duke University that gave their lives in WWII.