William Brown

William Brown (Aug. 29, 1899 – Oct. 5, 1918) was a Smokey Creek man killed in action during World War I.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Born Aug. 29, 1899 in the Smokey Creek community, William Brown was the son of Parsida Lowe Goodman (1882-1920). His mother was the daughter of John R. “Rat” Low and Nancy “Renee” Adkins, and was a great-granddaughter of Mikel Low, believed to be the first settler of Scott County.

Parsida later married Alvis Goodman (1881-1966) in 1902, but Alvis was not William’s father. She had two other children: George Goodman (1903-1924) and Lawrence Monroe Goodman (1905-1983).

William lived with his grandparents, Rat and Renee.

World War I

Pvt. Brown enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. on Nov. 14, 1917. He was assigned to Co. A, 24th Infantry, 1st Division.

Pvt. Brown was involved in the battles of Cantigny, Soissons and St. Mihiel. He was severely wounded on July 20, 1918 at the Battle of Soissons that was part of the Aisne-Marne counter-offensive. However, he returned to action for the St. Mihiel offensive in September 1918. He was killed on Oct. 5, 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne offensive in France. It was the final Allied offensive of the war, lasting from Sept. 26, 1918 until the Armistice of Nov. 11, 1918. It was the largest in U.S. military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers, sailors and marines, along with French and Siamese personnel. It remains the deadliest battle in the history of the U.S. Army. There were more than 350,000 casualties, including 26,277 American lives.

Complicating the losses for the American troops were inexperience and the onset of the Spanish flu pandemic.

The American forces were commanded by Gen. John J. “Black Jack” Pershing.

Pvt. Brown’s death came early in the second phase of the battle. The 1st Division had replaced American forces in the field just one day earlier. It suffered heavy losses in the battle.

Pvt. Brown wasn’t the only Scott Countian to die at the Argonne Forest. William Blevins, of Helenwood, was killed on Oct. 15. Prior to that, Hugh Lewallen, of Glenmary, was killed on Oct. 6, and Clovis Jeffers, of Winona, was killed on Oct. 9. Lonus Reed died on Dec. 8, 1918 from wounds he suffered during the battle. It was likely at the same battle that Sherman Stanley, of Oneida, was killed on Oct. 1.

It was at the same battle that Cpl. (later Sgt.) Alvin C. York made his famous capture of 132 German prisoners near Cornay on Oct. 8.

Aftermath

Brown was only 19 at the time of his death. He was buried at Smokey Creek Cemetery near his home. His grandfather, Rat Low, was buried there in 1921. Renee died in 1930 and was buried there. William’s brother, George Goodman, died in Campbell County in 1924 at the age of 20.

On Aug. 1, 1937, the United States unveiled the Meuse-Argonne American Memorial near Montfaucon, France. It is the largest American war memorial in Europe. An observation platform offers a view of the battlefield at the top of 234 stairs. President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a radio address for the unveiling from Washington, D.C.