First Sergeant EDWARD Raymond BROWNE, 219523

 

First Sergeant EDWARD Raymond BROWNE, 219523 USMC, US Marine Corps POW KIA. He was born in Franklin, New Hampshire on November 6, 1905, son of William H. and Julia (Dole) Browne; attended Gardner High School. His wife’s maiden name: Mary Germaine De Lesseps, they had two children, Edward R. BROWNE, Jr. and Patricia A. Browne. He entered military Service at age of 14 in 1921 giving incorrect age in Order to enlist; stationed at Fort Devens Massachusetts,, Fort Williams, Maine and other continental U. S. posts; entered Marine Corps at Boston, October 31, 1928, sent to Parris Island, South Carolina, for training; served On USS Rochester in Canal Zone and was part of force ashore In Nicaragua from September 8, 1930 to November 8, 1930, also saw service in Haiti China and the Philippines. Battles and Campaigns: Attack on Manila, Corregidor. He was serving with Company F, Fourth Regiment, when he was taken prisoner at the fall of Corregidor, May 6, 1942; confined in Cabanatuan Prison Camp on Luzon for two years. 
On 13 April 1942 First Sergeant EDWARD Raymond BROWNE earned the Silver Star Medal. After a “heavy Japanese artillery barrage upon, Fort Mills, Corregidor, and Philippine Islands. member of the battery were trapped as they sought shelter in nearby tunnels, First Sergeant EDWARD Raymond BROWNE readily volunteered, although the position was under close enemy observation and steady fire, to rescue his comrades. Disregarding the imminent danger of collapsing walls and roofs, Sergeant Browne heroically entered the tunnels, assisted in extricating trapped soldiers, and gave first aid to the wounded.” (3)
On October 24, 1944 he was put on the Japanese Imperial Navy Ship Arisan Maru which was transferring 1,781 POWS from the Philippines to Japan. The Arisan Maru was torpedo by an American submarine, only 9 POWs survived the sinking of the ship. First Sergeant EDWARD Raymond BROWNE was killed in action at the age of 38. He earned the Silver Star Medal (SSM), the Purple Heart Medal (PHM),  American Defense Medal with base China Service, The Asiatic Pacific Theater of operations, with one battle star, World War Two Victory Medal, the Distinguished Unit Badge with Oak Leaf Cluster (PUC)  Philippine Defense Ribbon with one battle star, the Good Conduct Ribbon, and the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Ribbon.