Veteran's experiences recalled in book

Who: Robert E. Brown, 1108 Washington St., Watertown, whose wartime photo and firsthand account of action in World War II are presented in a book on sale in France, "Sarthe, aout 1944 — Histoire d'une Liberation" ("Sarthe, August 1944 — History of Liberation"), by Fabrice Avoie. At the age of 91, he swims 20 laps a day, five days a week, at Fort Drum.

Where did you serve during the war?

"I was in France, Germany, Holland and Belgium. I was a POW for about 18 hours, and I received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart."

OK, let's go back to before the war. Are you originally from Jefferson County?

"No, I was born in New York City on Sept. 28, 1918, and graduated from Far Rockaway High School in January 1937. I went to work for Sperry Gyroscope, Brooklyn, which was making bomb sights for aircraft. When the draft was imposed in 1940 for everybody up to age 42, I volunteered for the draft and eventually went to officer training school in Tennessee. Then, as a second lieutenant, was assigned to the 5th Armored Division at Pine Camp in 1943.

"It was so wintry, it was something that I couldn't imagine. It was an awakening, to get away from New York City."

And you met your future wife here?

"The usual Saturday night thing of the soldiers was to go to Gene's Inn at Glen Park, and there I met Mary J. Smith of Watertown. Four weeks later, on Jan. 17, 1944, we were married. Well, it has lasted. We've been married 65 years."

So what's the story about your Bronze Star and your captivity?

"Before all that, I was wounded in Nouans, France. I had my helmet off when some rounds came in, and I was struck in the head by fragments, but I stayed on active duty. That was in August 1944.

"In March 1945, with the Germans in retreat, we were approaching Ansbach, Germany, when one of our platoon lieutenants stopped the column and refused to continue. So I volunteered to take the point and proceed. There was a long road ahead that was lined on both sides by trees, and I saw some movement about a thousand yards ahead. I turned our tank to go through back yards to avoid an ambush, and I discovered a German tank with its gun pointing my way. When we tried to fire at him, our gun jammed. I called in a second tank to engage, and the German turned and ran.

"They gave me the Bronze Star for that.

"Then, in April, we were near Tangermunde, 45 miles from Berlin. I was in the second of eight Jeeps on a reconnaissance mission near the Elbe River. As we rounded a bend in the road, we found ourselves face-to-face with a German force, having a machine gun trained on us. We were forced to surrender, but the last Jeep in our convoy was able to turn around and head back to our lines. So our position would be known.

"The Germans were trying to get back to their heartland. They took us into the woods, and we spent the night with them. They treated us fine, but they didn't feed us. We were held about 18 hours.

"At about midnight, a German officer took us out of the woods to a field and told us where to go to find our lines, and let us go. They wanted to move on, and wanted to disencumber themselves of us. We ran into our troops, but they thought we were Germans and they opened fire on us. Another lieutenant who was walking right next to me, Russell Wright, was killed.

"I was being watched over. My wife was back home saying a prayer to St. Jude for me every day ... and she does that to this day."

You continued your military career after the war ended?

"Yes. I was in the Panama Canal Zone, and in 1952 I was sent to Korea, where I was commander of the 45th Reconnaissance Company for 11 months. I received another Bronze Star there for meritorious service. Then during the next 10 years, I served two separate tours in Germany and assignments at Fort Knox, Fort Worth, Texas, and Fort Dix.

"In the summer of 1965, they were going to send me to Vietnam, and my wife said that's enough. I retired from the Army on Aug. 1, 1965."

You have four daughters. With all your travels, I'm guessing they weren't all born the same place.

"You're right. Our first, Karen (Carpenter), was born in Far Rockaway while I was home on leave. Jan (Livingston) and Joy (Swensen) were born in Fort Worth, and we were in the Panama Canal Zone when Jill (Butler) was born."

What did civilian life bring?

"I read in a retired officers' magazine that New York state was looking for people. I interviewed and took the Civil Service test, and I was hired to be an interviewer with the employment service. I was appointed to the office at Riverhead on Long Island. We stayed there two years, until again my wife said that was enough. She was alone down there, and she had a lot of family up here. They found an opening for me here in Watertown.

"I retired in 1980 after being an interviewer for 15 years. I enjoyed the job; I liked helping people find work."

If you would like to suggest somebody for a Times Q&A feature, contact reporter Dave Shampine at dshampine@wdt.net.