VA, and the National Cemetery Administration, welcome the Honorable Samuel B. Brown as the eighth Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 29, and sworn in by Secretary Collins on July 31.
Born in Arkansas and a member of the Cherokee Nation, Brown graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, earned a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University and retired as a Captain from the Army. He served in the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, as an Airborne Ranger-qualified infantry officer.
In 2008, Brown deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he was wounded by a road-side bomb, resulting in burns to 30% of his body. He retired in 2011 and, in 2012, returned to Afghanistan to provide inspiration to U.S. troops.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Brown said of his experience being wounded, “I was re-born when I heard the voice of my gunner scream out, ‘Sir, I’ve got you.’”
“His words gave me the miracle of hope,” Brown continued. “The message of hope that I received on the battlefield is one that the National Cemetery Administration delivers every day to the families and loved ones who are left wondering if they can go on with their lives after losing a cherished person who served this country. When that day arrives, NCA is there to tell these family members and loved ones, ‘We’ve got you.’”
Brown is married to former Army Captain Amy Brown, a critical care dietitian whom he met while in recovery at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. The couple have three children.
Please read Under Secretary Brown’s compelling Senate testimony to learn more about his amazing story.
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Subject: Urgent Request for Resolution of VA Disability Compensation and Back Pay
Dear Director Collins,
I am a 26-year Army veteran, medically retired for combat-related disabilities. Recently, I was awarded a 100% VA disability rating. Despite this approval, I am still waiting for my disability compensation and back pay to be processed and released.
It has been over two years since my original filing date. During this time, I have submitted multiple hardship requests due to the risk of losing my home to foreclosure. I have also sought assistance through Congressman Sam Graves’ office, submitting several congressional inquiries, yet I remain caught in what feels like an endless loop of being told “it is in the process.”
This extended delay has placed me under extreme financial and emotional strain. I only ask for what has already been approved and rightfully owed to me. Once this matter is resolved, I want nothing more than to move forward with my life in peace.
Unfortunately, the lack of answers and support from the VA Compensation side has severely impacted my mental health. My psychologist is working diligently to keep me stable through this ordeal, but the ongoing uncertainty is worsening my condition. I share this not as a threat, but as an honest reflection of the toll this unresolved process is taking on me as a veteran who has served his country for over two decades.
I respectfully request your immediate intervention to ensure my VA disability compensation and back pay are processed without further delay. I will only have confidence in this process once I see the funds deposited into my account.
Thank you for your time and for your commitment to veterans. I urge you to act swiftly so I may finally receive what has been rightfully granted and begin to rebuild my life.
Respectfully,
26-Year Combat-Disabled Army Retiree
Sam Brown is an American hero. Thank you for your service!
why won’t this thing let me comment??
Bill, the website isn’t letting you comment for 2 reasons. First, all comments are reviewed by a human before they are approved for publication on our website. So, there is always going to be a delay between when you submit a comment and when it shows up because one of us has to review your comment and approve it. Second, your comments have included links to websites that are not in keeping with our web standards. You can review the web standards at the link below:
https://digital.va.gov/web-governance/standards-and-policies/web-standards/
To be generous, let’s just say the hyperlinks that were included with your comments were running afoul of this: “VA websites and web applications will not…Link to external websites not related to VA’s mission.”
In the future, if you submit a comment, and give us a little time to review it, and be sure not to include any links to external websites that are “not related to VA’s mission” you shouldn’t have any issues getting your comments approved and published on the site.
Thank you so much.
Doug, you are an embarrassment.
pleasedonttalkaboutmyuncleilovehimverymcuh