John G. Brown – Sergeant First Class, United States Army

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 081-07
January 24, 2007

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of 12 soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in Baghdad, Iraq, on January 20, 2007, when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter they were in crashed.

Killed were:

Colonel Brian D. Allgood, 46, of Oklahoma, who was assigned to the 30th Medical Brigade, Europe Regional Medical Command, Heidelberg, Germany.

Staff Sergeant Darryl D. Booker, 37, of Midlothian, Virginia, who was assigned to the 29th Infantry Division, Virginia Army National Guard, Sandston, Virginia.

Sergeant First Class John G. Brown, 43, of Little Rock, Arkansas, who was assigned to the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault), 77th Aviation Brigade, Camp Robinson, Arkansas.

Lieuetnant Colonel David C. Canegata III, 50, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, who was assigned to the Virgin Islands Army National Guard, Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Command Sergeant Major Marilyn L. Gabbard, 46, of Polk City, Iowa, who was assigned to Joint Forces Headquarters, Iowa Army National Guard, Camp Dodge, Johnston, Iowa.

Command Sergeant Major Roger W. Haller, 49, of Davidsonville, Maryland, who was assigned to the 70th Regiment, Regional Training Institute – Maryland, Maryland Army National Guard, Reisterstown, Maryland.

Colonel Paul M. Kelly, 45, of Stafford, Virginia, who was assigned to the Joint Force Headquarters of the Virginia Army National Guard in Blackstone, Virginia.

Sergeant First Class Floyd E. Lake, 43, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, who was assigned to the Virgin Islands Army National Guard, Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Corporal Victor M. Langarica, 29, of Decatur, Georgia, who was assigned to the 86th Signal Battalion, Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

Captain Sean E. Lyerly, 31, of Pflugerville, Texas., who was assigned to the Texas Army National Guard’s 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, 36th Infantry Division, Austin, Texas.

Captain Michael V. Taylor, 40, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, who was assigned to the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault), 77th Aviation Brigade, Camp Robinson, Arkansas.

First Sergeant William T. Warren, 48, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, who was assigned to the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault), 77th Aviation Brigade, Camp Robinson, Arkansas.

The incident is under investigation.


Sgt. 1st Class John G. Brown, 43, of Little Rock, Ark., was assigned to the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault), 77th Aviation Brigade at Camp Robinson.

Known as Gary, Brown had served in Desert Storm and arrived in Iraq last summer, family members said. The crash occurred on Brown’s first day back on duty after taking leave to visit family in Arkansas, his brother told local news outlets.


Born: October 24, 1963, Sergeant First Class Class Brown is survived by his wife, Donna, grandchildren Christian and Josh Edmondson He joined the United States Army Delayed Entry Program on January 18, 1983. He served 3 years on active duty as an attack helicopter mechanic, before transferring into the Individual Ready Reserve on May 3, 1986.

On December 17, 1988, he was assigned as a Utility Helicopter Mechanic with 374th Medical Detachment (Air
Ambulance) from Little Rock, Arkansas. He served in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm from
November 15, 1990, until Apr. 15, 1991. He then became a crew chief.

On June 5, 1995, he enlisted into the ArkansasNational Guard, assigned as a crew chief for the 172nd Medical Company (Air Ambulance). On November 1, 1998, heserved as a crew chief for Company D, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment,in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant on April 15, 2004, and transferred to CompanyB, 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment,which became Company C, 1stBattalion, 131st Aviation Regiment, inApril, 2006, for mobilization in supportof Operation Iraqi Freedom

Military Awards and Decorations:• Bronze Star Medal• Purple Heart• Army Commendation Medal• Army Achievement Medal with 4Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters• Army Good Conduct Medal• Army Reserve Components
Achievements Medal with 3 BronzeOak Leaf Clusters• National Defense Service Medal• Southwest Asia Service Medal• Iraqi Campaign Medal• Global War On Terrorism ServiceMedal• Armed Forces Reserve Medal with‘M’ Device• Kuwait Liberation Medal• Noncommissioned Officer’s ProfessionalDevelopment Ribbon• Army Service Ribbon• Senior Aircraft Crewman Badge• Combat Action Badge• Arkansas Service Ribbon• Meritorious Unit Commendation

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Interment ceremony set for 12 killed in crash
4 October 2007

Twelve soldiers who were killed on January 20, 2007, when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Baghdad will be honored during a group interment at Arlington National Cemetery.

The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. October 12, 2007.

The soldiers, who belonged to a number of active Army and Army National Guard units, are: Colonel Brian D. Allgood, 46, of Okla. Colonel Paul M. Kelly, 45, of Stafford, Virginia, Lieuetnant Colonel David C. Canegata III, 50, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Captain Michael V. Taylor, 40, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Captain Sean E. Lyerly, 31, of Pflugerville, Texas, Command Sergeant Major Marilyn L. Gabbard, 46, of Polk City, Iowa, Command Sergeant Major Roger W. Haller, 49, of Davidsonville, Maryland, First Sergeant William T. Warren, 48, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Sergeant First Class Floyd E. Lake Sr., 43, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sergeant First Class Class John G. Brown, 43, of Little Rock, Arkansas, Staff Sergeant Darryl D. Booker, 37, of Midlothian, Virginia, and Corporal Victor M. Langarica, 29, of Decatur, Georgia.

After the ceremony, Lieutenant General Clyde Vaughn, director of the Army National Guard, will host a reception for all 12 families at the Army Guard’s Readiness Center in Arlington, Virginia.

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