Warren R. Brown 1921-2008 SPRINGFIELD - Warren R. Brown, 87, of Springfield died early Wednesday morning October 15, 2008 at his home surrounded by his family.

Warren was born in Salem, MA on April 25, 1921, a son of the late Walter E. and Ruth W. (Graham) Brown. He graduated from Salem High School in 1938 and from the University of Massachusetts School of Agriculture. Warren was employed for 20 years by the Hampden County Hall of Justice, Superior Court and retired in 1993. He had previously worked for Monsanto and Smith and Wesson.

Warren served his country during W.W.II with the United States Army as a Technical Sergeant with Headquarters Company 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry. He jumped into Normandy on D Day and saw action in the Ardennes and received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medals. Warren also received a Bronze Invasion Arrowhead, the Combat Infantry Badge, four campaign bronze battle stars, and two bronze battle stars on his parachute wings for combat jumps. He was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the French and Belgium Fourrageres, and the Orange Lanyard of the Royal Netherlands Army.

Warren resided in Springfield most of his life and was a communicant of St. Catherine of Siena Church. He was a member and past chaplain of the American Legion Post 277 of Indian Orchard, marched in the Veteran's Day Parade, helped to flag the graves on Memorial Day and Veteran's Day, and was an active member in the 508 Parachute Infantry Regimental Association.

Warren's greatest accomplishments were to marry Martha, raise his three daughters, and on August 9, 1971 make a hole-in-one on the third hole at Indian Mountain Golf Course. He had a love for life, his family, his country, God, and working in his garden.

Warren will be sadly missed by his family and friends who knew and loved him. Besides his parents, Warren was predeceased by his wife of 55 years Martha J. (Sullivan) Brown; his daughter Nancy J. Brown; a brother, Joe Brown; and a sister, Janice Bateman. He is survived by two daughters, Cynthia A. LaFountain and her husband Thomas of Springfield and Ruth F. Ferris and her husband Robert of Southwick; five grandchildren, Kathleen, Robert, Chris, Shawn, and Ashley; along with many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours for Warren will be held on Friday October 17, 2008 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Sampson's Chapel of the Acres Funeral Home, 21 Tinkham Road, Springfield. His funeral will be held on Saturday morning October 18, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. at the funeral home followed by the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Catherine of Siena Church, 1023 Parker Street, Springfield.

Rites of Committal and burial with Military Honors will be held in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 421 Tinkham Road, Springfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Warren's memory may be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104 and or to a Veteran's charity or organization of one's choice.

Warren enlisted in the Army at Boston (Suffolk county), Massachusetts on 14 October 1942.

Pvt Brown was assigned to Headquarters Company 1sdt Battalion, 508th PIR at Camp Blanding, FL and remained with that company throughout WWII,

Warren was wounded in action on 9 October 1944 and was awarded the Purple Heart.  He also received the Combat Infantryman Badge for action during Normandy, France Campaign, 6 June 1944 to 9 July 1944 and as a consequence qualified for the Bronze Star Medal following the war.

A memorial to Warren has been created in Ravenoville, France.

Family friend Nancy Gooding reports that she "had the great honor of planting an olive tree in Warren's honor this past June [2014] at a ceremony in Ravenoville. This photo shows his marker under the tree. I was also presented with a beautiful, bronze cast statue of a paratrooper that I gave to Cynthia, Warren's oldest daughter."