Gold Stars Are Symbols of Mother’s Day
for Women Whose Sons Will Never Return
These mothers represent hundreds like them in Waterloo to whom Mother’s day brings memories of the sons who will never return from service in World war II. Although they join with the nation in rejoicing in the victory over Germany, they contributed more than anyone else to make V-E day a reality.
Shown above is Mrs. J. S. Brown, 412 Sunnyside avenue, as she reminisces this Mother’s day with the pictures of her three sons in service. Left to right in the portraits are Sgt. Maurice C. Brown, now serving with the infantry in France; J. Shirley Brown, seaman first class, who was killed in action in the north Pacific Mar. 9, 1944, while on duty as a radar operator with the coast guard; and Capt. James G. Brown, serving with the paratroops in England.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, May 13, 1945, Page 6 (photo included)
Junior Shirley Brown was born July 5, 1924 to James Shirley and Mabel Foval Brown. He died Mar. 9, 1944 aboard the USS Leopold (DE-319) in the North Atlantic when that ship was struck by a torpedo fired from the German submarine U-255.
Petty Officer Brown is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Cambridge, England. He was awarded the Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Star.
Source: ancestry.com
