#VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Lloyd Brown

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Lloyd Brown, who enlisted at 16 and was the last known surviving Navy Veteran of World War I.

In 1918, at the age of 16, Lloyd Brown enlisted with the United States Navy. He received basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station outside of Chicago.

After completing basic training, the Navy assigned Brown to the USS New Hampshire, a Connecticut-class battleship and the last pre-dreadnought battleship the Navy commissioned. USS New Hampshire deployed to the English Channel, where they kept waters clear of German U-Boats. As a gun crew member, Brown communicated with men in the lookout towers, who called out targets. In addition to their specialized jobs, Sailors constantly kept the ship clean of coal dust generated by its furnaces.

Having entered the war so late, Brown only served several weeks before Germany signed the Armistice in November 1918, marking the end of World War I. Following the end of the war, he continued his enlistment on the USS New Hampshire, which served as a troop transport ship, bringing U.S. service members back to the United States.

The Navy discharged Brown as a seaman second class at the Naval Demobilization Station in St. Louis, Missouri, Oct. 6, 1919.

Brown reenlisted Nov. 10, 1921, at the Naval Receiving Station in Philadelphia, and applied to the U.S. Navy Band School in Norfolk, Virginia. After accepted, Brown served as a cellist with the admiral’s private orchestra aboard the USS Seattle flagship. There, Sailors entertained the admiral and his guests during social functions.

The Navy discharged Brown Nov. 14, 1925, as a musician second class. After leaving the Navy, he joined the District of Columbia Fire Department, Engine Company 16, serving the White House and surrounding embassies. Having lied about his age to enlist, Brown’s year of birth was erroneously listed as 1899 on his driver’s license for the remainder of his life. Brown passed away April 2, 2007, at the age of 105. He was the last known surviving Navy Veteran of World War I.

We honor his service.

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Veterans History Project

This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.

Contributors

Editor: Caroline Pellegrini

Graphic artist: Kimber Garland