COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Descendants of the 661st Tank Destroyer Battalion visited central Ohio this week to hear from the last living member of their fathers' unit: Columbus resident Marvin Brown.
“That makes me very sad,” Brown said of being the last 661st veteran. “The love of a man and a woman is something to behold, very inspirational. But the love of one GI for another GI, you’ve been both shot at together, is something special.”
Brown, 99, vividly recalls his time in Germany during World War II. He shared his memories with several dozen 661st descendants on Tuesday at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. The museum was closed to the public, allowing Brown to share stories for an hour before attendees embarked on a tour.
Bosses could give bonus to newlyweds under Ohio bill“I never had a pair of dry socks on my feet for the first few days,” Brown shared. “And I didn't want to report to medics because I didn't want to leave my buddies. That's how much I loved them.”
Brown was among the youngest of the battalion, having turned 18 just months before arriving in Europe. Brown, like several attendees' fathers, first tried to enlist as a young teen after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He remembered the enlistment office was standing room only, which made him proud.
World War II Veteran Marvin Brown (center) and several descendants of the 661st Tank Destroyer Battalion (NBC4i)Two years later, Brown was old enough to enlist. He was originally slated for paperwork, but asked to be transferred to work as an assistant gunner. Brown said he wanted to fight.
“I’m Jewish and Hitler was killing my people, and I wanted to go do whatever I could to get them off our backs,” Brown said.
Brown is one of about 45,000 remaining living WWII veterans, and one of just 1,600 in Ohio. Many attendees had met Brown previously; although it is now nearly all descendants, the 661st holds an annual reunion.
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“You had to be lucky because there was nowhere to go,” Brown said.
With five men to a tank, Brown said he did far less walking than many troops and left the war with the original soles of his Army boots. He said his college roommate, a Marine Corps photographer, went through three pairs in the Pacific Islands.
After the war, Brown still wore his boots during bad weather, and said he still may have them. He's not sure where his other souvenirs -- a German bayonet and armband -- are today.
Brown and his brothers in arms were part of the Battle of Leipzig, the final major German city to fall to American troops. Brown recalled the last of the fighting, with his officers threatening to burn down a monument S.S. soldiers were hiding in. Brown said the "mayor was horrified," knowing there was precious art in the basement stolen by the Nazis. The threat was enough to get the S.S. out.
Ohio work group reveals property tax suggestions. Here's what they meanAfter Germany surrendered, Brown went back to the U.S. to fight in Japan. Several of the 661st were on trains headed west to set off for the Pacific when they learned America dropped the nuclear bomb.
“I don't like anybody to say anything bad about Harry Truman,” Brown said. “I feel he saved my life.”
Brown said he did not always want to talk about his service, but wants to keep the 661st's story alive. In one of the few interviews he's done, Brown spoke with NBC4’s Ben Gelber in 2016. Brown realized he lived a parallel life with a fellow Creekside retirement community resident, both New Yorkers serving in the 661st, and shared the story with Gelber.
After Brown spoke, the museum gave attendees a private tour. The descendants also met up with Brown on Wednesday to grab lunch at his favorite spot, Scotty's Cafe in Bexley.
When asked what attendees were most excited to see in Columbus, they all said Brown. Attendee Tom Slopek's father, Julius, was in the 661st. Slopek said it was incredible Brown would give so much for his country, calling him "one of the bravest men he'd ever met."
Brown said he was honored that the group decided to reunite in Columbus to see him.
“There were times of sheer terror and times of sheer boredom,” Brown said. “But I want to tell you that I loved their dads.”
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