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Naval Submarine Base Commemorates the 69th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway

World War II Veteran Deen Brown Shares His Recollections of the Battle

When Deen Brown enlisted in the Navy, he had no idea he would end up on a submarine, let alone on one that would participate in the pivotal Battle of Midway in June of 1942.

“I have never really thanked them, but the Japanese did in fact thrust me into submarines,” Brown recalled Friday morning in his speech to commemorate the 69th Anniversary Battle of Midway at the Submarine Force Library Museum in Groton.

Brown, 88 , still remembers the events leading up to the battle clearly.

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“I was supposed to join up with the USS Nevada in Pearl Harbor, but the Japanese had other plans,” he said.

While on his way to meet up with the USS Nevada, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and sank the ship. Brown arrived in the aftermath of the attack, and immediately volunteered his services as a radio man on the submarine base, although he had no experience or qualifications for submarines.

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Eventually, Brown was reassigned to the USS Trout, a Tambor-class submarine that went on to receive 11 battle stars for service during World War II.

Brown was given six months to qualify in submarines. He did it in four.

“I was determined, and I had a lot of help from everyone else on board,” he said.

Brown recalls how he felt during the Battle of Midway well.

“I was absolutely, totally exhausted the whole time,” he recalled.

As one of two radio men on his submarine, Brown spent 12-hour shifts reading and copying a steady stream of Morse code.

“I was a young radio man then, with little experience. It was demanding and very stressful,” he said.

Brown recounted his memories of the Battle of Midway to an audience that included students from West Side Middle School and the Naval Submarine School, as well as veterans and public officers.

In telling his stories, Brown hoped to encourage and inspire the young submarine school students in the audience.

“I wanted to tell them about the hardships we faced, and I hope that they realize that when they meet hardship they should face it head on,” said Brown.

Brown’s words resonated with others of the audience as well. 

“His stories give meaning to what we do every day,” said Rear Admiral Michael McLaughlin, who participated in the wreath-laying ceremony that preceded Brown’s address.

Barbara Strother, who works for the Town of Groton in Planning and Development, came to the commemoration ceremony to honor her father who served on the USS Darter during World War II.

“I think these events are critically important to remember the sacrifices previous generations have made for us," said Strother, "and the sacrifices that those serving in the military still make today.”

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