US Army Private First-Class, Clossie D. Brown, Company F 2nd Battalion 157th Infantry Regiment 45th Infantry Division has come home. Clossie died on January 21, 1945 near the village of Reipertswiller, France during WWII at the age of 37. Clossie entered the U.S. Army at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana on April 8, 1944. He served in the European Theater. During intense ground combat in the area, he was killed by enemy fire. His remains were not accounted for following the battle, as German units controlled the area. Between 1945 and 1947, French civilians and demining units discovered numerous remains in the hills and forest in the vicinity of Reipertswiller and alerted American graves registration personnel. Beginning in 1946 the American Graves Registration Command, U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps was the organization tasked with recovering missing American personnel in the European Theater. As part of their work, units recovered numerous remains that could not immediately be identified. In June 2021 and August 2022, the Department of Defense and American Battle Monuments Commission exhumed the remains of Unknowns from Lorraine American Cemetery, in France and from Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium for forensic analysis and comparison with PFC Brown, among other unresolved casualties. Identification was made from DNA specimens obtained from maternal cousins of Clossie Brown.
Clossie received the following medals; The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, The World War II Victory Medal, The Combat Infantryman Badge, and Honorable Service Lapel Button.
Clossie was born September 24, 1908 in Kirklin, Ind. the son of Alonso D. & Mary (Shimmel) Brown. He had three siblings, Alvin Dewey Brown, Denzel Louis Brown and Losa Cleo Brown. He married Mildred Irene Cline and they had two children, Barbara Joan (Brown) Heaton and David Lee (Joyce) Brown, two granddaughters, Roslyn R. (Heaton) Clendenning of Kokomo, IN and Annette J. (Brown) Sisson of Story City, IA.
Visitation and Services
An escorted procession from the Indianapolis Airport will arrive in Frankfort approximately between 5:45-6:15 p.m. Friday, September 20, 2024. We invite the public to line the square in downtown Frankfort in honor of Clossie. A map of the route may be viewed below. Visitation will be from 12 Noon-2 p.m. Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort, with the funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Burial with Military Honors will be in Whiteman Cemetery, Michigantown, Indiana. Following burial, everyone is invited to the Kirklin American Legion, 105 East Madison St., Kirklin, IN 46050 for food and fellowship.
My great grandfather is finally coming home. I’ve never met you but I feel like I’ve known you forever. As a fellow veteran you are my brother. May those that worried so much for you so many years ago, may their souls rest easy knowing you are home.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleCarl I am so glad your great grandfather is coming home!
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome home soldier. So happy for his family.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleHe is finally home! I am so glad your family will finally be able to put him to rest.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you for your service and your sacrifice for our country. So thankful that you are finally coming home!
Joe H Root
Veterans Service Officer
Commander American Legion Post 12
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Facebook Twitter GoogleRos
So glad your Grandfather is finally returning home. Your grandmother is now at peace! What a great tribute to a true hero! Even though you never knew him, you will always carry him in your heart.
My sincere condolences.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you so much. This has been a very moving,& tearful time. But being a mother of a veteran also. My son was blessed to come home. I know how she worried. Only place he should be now.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThis is wonderful for you and your boys. Know that my prayers and heart are with you during this time.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleMay you rest in peace. Thank you for your service, You’re home with family now.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleNow you can rest in peace Mr. Brown. Finally home on American soil. Our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the Clendenning and Brown families. You would’ve loved your great grandson, Carl Clendenning Jr. He is an amazing man, friend, husband, father and Marine. You would have been proud.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI love you guys so much.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleCourage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened. Our country’s REAL heroes are our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who, with a prayer on their lips, leave their loving families to protect our land or to become a symbol of hope for a downtrodden, underserved, and at risk nation, begging for liberty and justice. My family and I are eternally grateful for your service. Welcome home, Sir . . .
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you for your service Uncle Clossie! Although I never knew you my Dad mentioned you on several occasions. Your son David was like a brother to me. Your wife, Aunt Ikie (Irene) was very dear to me.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleTo the family and friends, so sorry for your loss. Welcome home and Rest Easy Hero.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleSo happy he was able to come back home to his family. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. You will never be forgotten. My uncle also served in the 45th.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome Home Soldier. Rest in peace.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome home to a brave man who helped to give us freedom. I can’t imagine the pain and worrying of the family all of those years. Prayers for the family.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome home Soldier, thank you for your service. Lord give this family peace as they bring their loved one home. Rest in peace young man.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you to this hero for his service to our country, and thank you to all who gave him a well deserved hero’s welcome home for his funeral. Much love to this dear family for all they’ve endured waiting for this day.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you PFC Brown for your service, now home in America. Rest high on that mountain in peace now. Prayers to family.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome home sir, Thank you for your service and ultimate sacrifice. May you and your family have the peace you deserve now that you are finally home.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome home!!!! May you rest comfortably being where you belong. Thank you and your family for the sacrifices made for us!
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome home Soldier. Thank you for your service your family can rest now knowing you are laid to rest. RIP young man
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you for your service. You gave all to protect our freedom and free the Jewish people.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleFor those who never gave up and continue to find those lost and enable them to return home, Thank you. And to a brave man who entered a war with the idea of serving our country we thank you for your sacrifice and your families sacrifice.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleFrom Canada. We Salute you for you service. God Bless
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWe will never forget. Our condolences in the loss of your beloved. Your home now soldier, end of your watch. Thank you so very much for your sacrifice for the freedom of us all. Hand salute
D. Devore SSG staff Sergeant U. S. Army retired
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Facebook Twitter GooglePrivate First Class Clossie Brown thank you for the ultimate service. May peace be with the Brown family.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleMany thanks for his service and support. RIP
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you for your service. You’ve made it home. May you rest in peace.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWords can not express the honor we have for Clossie Brown. You will never know the gratitude we have for your sacrifices in keeping our country safe. With the deepest sympathy
Dave & Kristina Smiley
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome home Clossie! Thank you for your service, you are a HERO
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you for your service. Happy you are finally home.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you for your service Sir, and may you rest in peace.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you for your service and your sacrifice. Welcome home.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDear PFC Mr. Brown. Thank you for your sacrifice. Although you have been resting in peace for some time. I’m grateful that your family can all rest easy now that you are home. God bless you and your family.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleMy great uncle passed in WWII and was brought home. Thank you for your loved ones service. May he rest in peace and the family have closure knowing he is where he belongs. Prayers
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you Sir for your service to your country and giving the ultimate sacrifice. My condolences to your loved ones.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleMy husband and I are from Muncie and currently visiting Normany. We visited the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach a few days ago and numerous WWII monuments and battle sites. It’s a solemn journey. We won’t be back in Indiana until the night of the 24th, otherwise we would be there to honor this soldier. Many French homes in this area fly the American flag. They have not forgotten the sacrifice of soldiers like PFC Clossie Brown. May he rest in peace. Home at last. Dr. John and Mrs. Barbara Durbin
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you for your service and your sacrifice to our country! May you continue to rest in peace. Welcome home! Our thoughts and prayers are with your family for continued peace and comfort!
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you for your service to God and Country. May your soul, and all the souls of the faithfully departed, rest in peace. Amen.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleSir we thank you for your service and sacrifice! Now RIP. Thankful for the closure for your family! Thanks again!
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank You for your Service
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Facebook Twitter GoogleDearest family of Clossie D Brown.
I’m so sorry for what you must have been through with the loss of Clossie. I thank him for his service. May he rest in peace now that he’s home. My sincerest of sympathies to you and yours.
Lisa Moore
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Facebook Twitter GooglePlease accept my condolences on the loss of this brave young man. I hope there is some consolation in bringing him home at last. He is well deserving of each and every honor bestowed upon him. I am so grateful that at last his family can welcome him home. I would be there to line the square and honor him if I could. I will instead stand silent and welcome you in my heart as you are welcomed home.
God bless you all.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome home PFC Brown back on America soil. Now rest easy and God Bless. Thank you for your Service and Sacrifice.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome Home
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Facebook Twitter GoogleSorry it took so long to find him. Thank him for his service to our country and prayers for his family.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you for your service.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome Home. Thank you for your service.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleThank you for your service to our great nation! Thank you for being one of those amongst the greatest generation willing to fight for our freedoms. God bless and welcome home.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleRest in peace solider. God bless you for all you gave, for our Country and the World.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome home, soldier. And thank you for your service and the ultimate sacrifice. May your memory continue to live on forever. Rest in eternal paradise.
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Facebook Twitter GooglePrayers for the family and friends – Grateful for your service and sorry for your loss, PFC Brown. Welcome home and RIP
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Facebook Twitter GoogleOur heart felt condolences to the family after all these years. He’s home now and can truly rest in peace.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleR.I.P. comrade.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleSimply amazing that you were found and returned. Brought tears to my eyes. Once American, always American. Welcome home and thank you for your service.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleWelcome home soldier! Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Rest in peace, you’re home now.
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