WWII Veteran David W. Brown
David W. Brown
Technician 4th Grade
490th Port Battalion
226 Port Company
European Theater
Military Service
Drafted: January 1943
Landed D-Day: Utah Beach, June 6, 1944
Time: 20:00 hours
Honorable Discharge: December 1945
About The Documentary
David Brown’s D-Day: The Story of a WWII Veteran, D-Day Utah Beach
Nearly sixty years after his D-Day landing, WWII veteran David Brown spends over one and half hours sharing his experiences of the day that changed history, his army experience and the thoughts of a young man fighting to liberate a country from German occupation.
Over the course of six years, countless hours of footage was captured to develop a documentary reflecting David’s perilous view on the greatest war and the single most momentous event of the 20th century.
Through three return visits to Utah Beach David speaks with pride about his role in history but shares his sadness over the sacrifices of countless others that did not return from the shores of Normandy.
About
Additional Information
David Brown's D-Day filming locations:
Normandy, France
- The D-Day Landing Beaches: Utah Beach & Omaha Beach
Chicago, IL
Executive Producer: Sharon Rossmark
Videographer: Steve Dragin
Special thanks to: Elaine Morris and Chris Redd for capturing David's story.
Film editor: Paul Buchbinder Film and Video Productions, Inc.
Copyright 2004
Emmy Award
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
February 2007:
Segments of the video appeared in the History Channel’s, Emmy Award winning program, “A Distant Shore, African Americans of D-Day”
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognized David with an Emmy plaque for his contributions to the Emmy Award winning History Channel Program, A Distant Shore: African Americans of D-Day.
Photo:
David shown with his Emmy plaque
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Knight of the Legion of Honor
June 2010:
By decree signed by the President of the French Republic, David was named “Knight of the Legion of Honor” for his valorous actions during World War II.
David's French Knight of the
Legion of Honor Metal
The medal is the highest honor bestowed by France.
The medal was presented to David by the
Consulate General of France
Return to Utah Beach
June 2003
David returns to Utah Beach, the site of his D-Day landing.
This was one of David's three return visits with his daughter to Normandy since his initial landing during WWII. This was also his final visit to the historical WWII site.
Endowed Scholarship
In memory of David and his wife, an endowed scholarship has been established at Illinois State University.
The Dream Maker's Scholarship fund supports tuition for US military veterans and their family members majoring in Business at Illinois State University.
For information about the scholarship fund contact:
Laura Carne
Illinois State University
