CORTEZ: Lead By Example With God At Your Side
Guy Larry Brown, LtCol. USMC Ret. -- father of former First Lady Susan Allen -- was laid to rest in Charlottesville this week. Daniel Cortez shares his thoughts on the legacy of a great man.
I had the pleasure of meeting the Colonel and Mrs. Brown just before George Allen’s 2006 US Senate campaign as they presented a bit of their personal experiences and testimony through life. One walked away with a tremendous appreciation for the lives of two remarkable and extraordinary souls.
One of the lives touched — or more directly, saved — by Col. Brown’s extraordinary life is none other than Daniel Cortez, a dear friend and patriot who served with Brown in the US Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Cortez’s obituary honoring Brown and his family follow below:
A great American Vietnam war hero was laid to rest.
Guy Larry Brown, LtCol. USMC Ret. affectionately known as GranGuy was laid to rest in Charlottesville, Virginia after military honors and a funeral mass at the St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Charlottesville.
Brown is the father of Virginia’s First Lady Susan M. Brown Allen, wife of Virginia’s 67th Governor George Felix Allen of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Both are close dear personal friends.
I had the honor and privilege of serving with LtCol. Brown in Vietnam from 1970-71 where in his second tour he flew 100 more missions in support of intense combat operations and one particular clandestine mission at the time I was part of. He piloted us into and out of an extremely hot LZ to capture a very high value enemy insurgent. His leadership, cool composure under enemy fire and reassuring gestures and words saved the lives of scores of Marines that night including myself.
In spite of the uncertainty of every mission, combat Marines felt an added level of security when Brown was at the controls. Too many Marines to count owe him our very lives for his professionalism, courage under fire and dedication to duty.
Larry is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Dorthy Anne Rozamus Brown along with son Stephen G. Brown and wife Debra of Crozet, Virginia, and other daughter Katherine A Brown Jasien and husband William of Hilton Head, S.C.
He was blessed with nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Each grandchild present offered a moving testimonial of love at the conclusion of the ceremony yesterday.
GranGuy had a love of aviation and was part of the Charlottesville Aviation Luncheon Club.
He was President of the Crozet Lions Club, President of the Virginia Association of Educational Data Systems and President of the Monticello Chapter of the U.S. Data Processing Management Association. He also held leadership positions in the Virginia Partners of the Americas and helped spread computer technology to Virginia’s sister state in Brazil.
He lived by his motto “Lead by example with God at your side" with his Marines and students throughout his life.
I consider myself fortunate to have known this great Virginia gentleman.
Included in these photos are one with the newest great grandson of GranGuy, Wright Felix Brown Allen Poole, son of Tyler Brown Allen Poole and husband Harry, the grandson of Susan and George. The Brown/Allen legacy continues.
Rest in peace sir — and a firm hand salute.
Shaun Kenney is the editor of The Republican Standard, former chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Fluvanna County, and a former executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia.