WCU Alumnus and Vietnam Veteran Speaks to Carey Scholars About Leadership

Hattiesburg, MS, January 13, 2012 – Charles J. Brown, a William Carey University graduate ('73) and Vietnam veteran who is currently featured in the History Channel's documentary series "Vietnam in HD," spoke to Carey Scholars during their monthly Honors Colloquium on Friday, January 13. He stressed the importance of developing leadership skills, and encouraged them to always "make one step up" from wherever they are in life. Brown told the scholars to take on a leadership-driven attitude, and get involved in as many ways as possible in order to enrich their lives.

A Hattiesburg native and1958 graduate of L.J. Rowan School, Charles joined the U.S. Army  out of high school. He began his Army career stationed overseas with the 101st Airborne Division, and soon after, served as Platoon Sergeant in the 173rd Airborne Brigade. After injuries from taking shrapnel in both legs, Charles still returned to the front lines, and fought in the battle of Dak To in 1967. He endangered his own life to rescue wounded soldiers during this deadly battle, and was awarded two Bronze Star medals and a Purple Heart medal for his leadership role and courage. In 1994, he was honored as Hattiesburg's first Veteran of the Year.

Now a local businessman, Charles is active in the Pine Belt community. He was one of the original Commissioners appointed in 1991 to serve on the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, and in 2011, was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Award as the Hattiesburg Rotary International Non-Rotarian of the Year.

Carey Scholars are select students chosen to be part of the Presidential Honors Program based on academic excellence. The 2011 - 2012 Carey Scholars number 62, with 21 of those being freshmen. In March, Dr. Hummel, vice-president of advancement and director of the Honors College, will take the freshmen and sophomore Carey Scholars to England as part of the annual trip to study and explore the native country of William Carey, the "Father of Modern Missions" and namesake of the university.


(center) Charles J. Brown, WCU alumnus and Vietnam veteran who is currently featured in the documentary series "Vietnam in HD," greets WCU Carey Scholar Hannah Brown (right), a junior elementary education major from Columbus, and president of the Carey Scholars Nicholas Holland (left), a senior biology major from Meridian, prior to giving his presentation at the monthly Honors Colloquium on Friday, January 13.