Brown, Robert Evan, CPT

World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served during World War II in the United States Army as Captain and commander of Company C, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at Crucifix Hill, Aachen, Germany, on October 8, 1944. His citation reads "He commanded Company C, 18th Infantry Regiment when it, with the Ranger Platoon of the 1st Battalion, attacked Crucifix Hill, a key point in the enemy's defense of Aachen, Germany. As the leading rifle platoon assaulted the first of many pillboxes studding the rising ground, heavy fire from a flanking emplacement raked it. An intense artillery barrage fell on the American troops which had been pinned down in an exposed position. Seeing that the pillboxes must be neutralized to prevent the slaughter of his men, Capt. Brown obtained a pole charge and started forward alone toward the first pillbox, about 100 yards away. Hugging the ground while enemy bullets whipped around him, he crawled and then ran toward the aperture of the fortification, rammed his explosive inside and jumped back as the pillbox and its occupants were blown up. He rejoined the assault platoon, secured another pole charge, and led the way toward the next pillbox under continuous artillery mortar, automatic, and small-arms fire. He again ran forward and placed his charge in the enemy fortification, knocking it out. He then found that fire from a third pillbox was pinning down his company; so he returned to his men, secured another charge, and began to creep and crawl toward the hostile emplacement. With heroic bravery he disregarded opposing fire and worked ahead in the face of bullets streaming from the pillbox. Finally reaching his objective, he stood up and inserted his explosive, silencing the enemy. He was wounded by a mortar shell but refused medical attention and, despite heavy hostile fire, moved swiftly among his troops exhorting and instructing them in subduing powerful opposition. Later, realizing the need for information of enemy activity beyond the hill, Capt. Brown went out alone to reconnoiter. He observed possible routes of enemy approach and several times deliberately drew enemy fire to locate gun emplacements. Twice more, on this self-imposed mission, he was wounded; but he succeeded in securing information which led to the destruction of several enemy guns and enabled his company to throw back 2 powerful counterattacks with heavy losses. Only when Company C's position was completely secure did he permit treatment of his 3 wounds. By his indomitable courage, fearless leadership, and outstanding skill as a soldier, Capt. Brown contributed in great measure to the taking of Crucifix Hill, a vital link in the American line encircling Aachen". A 22-year veteran of the Army at the time of the Aachen fight, he had landed with his Company at Omaha Beach on D-Day (June 6, 1944), and took command of it when its Captain was killed. An artillery shell wounded him the day of his bravery, and he spent months in an Army hospital before being able to rejoin his company to fight in the operations in Czechoslovakia. His Medal was awarded to him on September 1, 1945. Along with the MOH, he was awarded 2 Silver Stars and a Bronze Star, and he sustained 13 wounds in total during his service. His war-time experience traumatized him like thousands of other veterans, and he was unable to find a concrete civilian job after his discharge. For a while he was employed as a janitor at the United States Military Academy before his memories of the war induced him to take his own life.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6129902/bobbie-evan-brown