Joseph M. Brown

SGT (RET) Joseph (Joe) M. Brown, 44, of Junction City, Kansas, passed away on May 9, 2024, at Stormont Vail - Flint Hills
Campus.

Joe was born to Marybeth McLaggan (Dunakin) and Frank Charles Wass Jr., being raised by his mother in Maine from an early age. Joe attended school in East Millinocket, where he participated in baseball, basketball, and the cross-country track team. Joe graduated from Schenck High School in 1998.

In 1999, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Army as a 19K M1 Armor Crewman. He served in the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, participated in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo (2001), deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I (2003) in Baghdad, and Operation Iraqi Freedom III (2005) in Samarra, Iraq. He was then assigned as Cadre to 2nd Battalion, 81st Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Fort Knox, Kentucky. While attending Advanced Leaders Course, Joe reclassed as a 19D Cavalry Scout. In 2007 he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 70th Armored Regiment, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, until a reassignment to 1st Battalion, 63rd Armored Regiment occurred, where he remained until his medical retirement.

Joe married his first wife Sarah (Orlando), and together they welcomed a son, Trey in 1999, and then welcomed a daughter, Libby in 2000. Joe and Sarah parted ways in 2004. Joe married his second wife, Andrea (Carnall) in 2005, separating in 2014.

Joe served over 16 years in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant before a reduction, ultimately being medically retired as a Sergeant in 2017. While honorably serving his county, his accolades include Iraq Campaign Medal (two campaign stars), Army Commendation Medal with Valor, Army Commendation Medal (3rd award), Army Achievement Medal (6th award), Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal (w Bronze Service Star), Non Commissioned Officer Professional Ribbon (2nd award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Driver and Mech Badge with Driver Tracked Vehicle Clasp, and Driver Mech Badge with Driver Wheeled Vehicle Clasp.

Joe’s military accomplishments came at a cost to him. He was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, as well as other neurological, physical ailments, and a battle with prescription drug addiction. He fought his demons with medical help and some personal misguidance. Regardless, his family and loved ones who fought alongside him, as long as he allowed them to, will hold him in their hearts as father, their “Joe-Joe”, soldier, friend, athlete, battle buddy, and even the “cool NCO” as he was described by one of his former soldiers.

Joe was preceded in death by his mother, Marybeth McLaggan (2005), and is survived by his son Trey Brown of South Carolina, daughter Libby Brown of Rhode Island, step-son Hayden Caldwell of Oklahoma, step-son Ashton Wilcox of Oregon, step-daughter Lily Johnson of Oklahoma, six grandchildren, brother Leo (Katie) Brown of South Carolina, Shawn (Holly) Brown of Maine, step-father Royce McLaggan of Maine, step-sister Tiffany (Russ) Field of Maine, mother-in-law Ophelia “OG” Bateman, sibling-in-laws, Alvin (Sherrie) Carnall, Monica Carnall-Eason, all residing in Oklahoma, many
nieces and nephews, former spouse Sarah Brown of Rhode Island, and Andrea Brown of Kansas.

Joe’s final resting place is the Central Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery – Mt Vernon Road in Augusta, Maine. Military honors will be conducted on Friday, July 12, 2024, at 9:00 AM. If you or someone you know is suffering from substance abuse, please call 1-800-662-4357 (HELP) or go to
FindTreatment.gov.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, please call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, then press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line. You can also text 838255 or chat online 24/7