Remembering an American Hero

Remembering an American Hero

                    By: Cameron Anderson

        Lake Hamilton lost one of its finest alumni. On March 17^th, 2010.  Chief Petty Officer Adam Lee Brown was a 1992 graduate and played football, was a member of Student Council, Beta Club, Spanish Club, and FCA.  Brown a US Navy SEAL, was killed in action in Komar Province, Afghanistan.

          Along with being a fearless warrior, Adam was also a loving husband to his wife Kelly and a loving father to his two children Nathan and Savannah.  He was son to Larry and Janice Brown.  Larry Brown is also a former school board member for the Lake Hamilton School District.  Adam was a Razorback fanatic and loved his state of Arkansas.  Before going into battle Adam would put the Arkansas state flag inside of his body armor.  A true testament to how much he loved his state and cared so much about it.  Adam was laid to rest in a small cemetery just outside of town.  A very peaceful resting place that captures Arkansas’s beauty at it’s best. 

          Fellow classmates, teachers, and coaches remember Adam as being a hardworking and caring student.  Classmates said that he would always stand up for the little guy.  Football coaches say that while Adam wasn’t always the biggest guy on the field he would never back down.  Steve Anderson who was one of Adam’s football coaches in high school remembers times where Adam would line up in one on one drills against the biggest guy on the team.  “Adam always went 110% no matter what.” Anderson said.  After graduating high school he attended college at Arkansas Tech University.  Aside from being a student at Arkansas Tech, he was also a member of the football team.  With the type of work ethic Adam had it shouldn’t be a surprise that he would want to challenge himself with collegiate football.

          After attending college, he decided to join the Navy in 1998.  In Adam’s 12 year career in the Navy he accomplished many great things.  Getting the rank of Chief Special Warfare Operator was certainly a prestigious rank.  Adam earned many medals while serving his country.  He received the Bronze Star which is given for heroic actions.  He also received two joint service medals which are awarded for outstanding achievement.   Those are just a small number of what all he achieved.  Adam had a multitude of personal, unit, and campaign decorations.  While on tour in Afghanistan, Adam suffered injuries that resulted in him losing most movement in his fingers.  Due to his bravery and commitment Adam received a Purple Heart for his injuries.  Adam also had to have an eye removed, Adam overcame the adversity and continued to do what he loved to do.  Sadly, Adam was killed serving the country he loved.  He died a true hero placing himself in the line of fire to save the lives of his unit members.  That was just the type of guy Adam was, putting his life in harms way for the safety and livelihood for other people.   

If you are in the Lake Hamilton community, you are sure to see a tribute to Adam’s sacrifice.  The road that leads to Lake Hamilton School District was recently renamed

Adam Brown Road

.  Inside of the administration building hangs a shadow box that Adam was working on to give to his high school football coaches once he came back to the United States.  Adam’s parents presented the shadow box before the Maroon and Gold football game this year.  In my football locker is a picture of Adam.  Before every game, I always make sure to touch it before I go out on the field.  It reminds me to go as hard as I can and to never quit.  On the new turf, there is a section in Adam’s memory.  It is placed where the football team will run by as they make their grand entrance out of the wolf head.  Adam Brown will always be apart of the Lake Hamilton football team and the Lake Hamilton School District.  This school and community will forever cherish the life of Adam Brown and his sacrifice for this great country.