This Veterans Day in Huntsville, honor our nation's remarkable heroes

kellen brown, veterans day — Kellen Brown when he returned from his first deployment to Iraq in 2008. (Photo courtesy of Kellen Brown)

When he enlisted in the Army in 2005, Kellen Brown was just looking for a way to pay for college. After two tours in Iraq, he’s now a warrant officer in the Army Reserve who credits his military service in shaping him as husband and father.

This weekend, Huntsville will celebrate its veterans with its annual Veterans Day Parade and other events. Nearly 30,000 veterans live in the greater Huntsville area, which has a large military population due to Redstone Arsenal.

For Brown, Veterans Day reminds him of his service, and he uses the day to help instill patriotism in his children. Every veteran has a story, and this is Kellen Brown’s.

Kellen Brown’s tours across Iraq

Brown graduated from Morgan County’s Brewer High School in 2005 and enlisted in the Army to help pay for college. He was the first member of his immediate family to join the military and joked that there was no drill sergeant any tougher than his father.

His first deployment in May 2007 brought him to Tallil, Iraq, home of Ali Air Base. There, Brown served as part of a 175 person transportation unit. When Germany and Kuwait flew supplies into the base, Brown and his unit distributed the cargo across Iraq for nearly 15 months. He returned home in July 2008.

In May of 2011, Brown deployed for a second time–this time with a mission to help shut down American military operations in Iraq. Moving from north to south, convoys 80 vehicles long loaded up supplies to bring back to Kuwait. Brown remembers these operations, and his unit, fondly.

“People come from all walks of life and in no time can accomplish goals. I was in basic training with people from the Bronx and Manhattan, and I’m a country boy from Somerville, Alabama, accomplishing goals with guys that don’t even understand why I’d live in the middle of a field. It’s crazy how that works, but I think that’s the beauty of the military.”
CW2 Kellen Brown

Why Veterans Day matters

space and rocket center — The American flag flies out Huntsville’s Space and Rocket Center. (Lacey Spear / Hville Blast)

Now, Veterans Day reminds Brown of his service and how rewarding his experience was. Today, he’s a Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) MOS 920-B.

Brown celebrates Veterans Day with his 9 and 10-year-old daughters, Laiken and Sadie, and his wife, Meagan. He believes it’s important for his children to know veterans from all different types of conflicts–from World War II to the War in Afghanistan–are still living. People in those groups share so much knowledge, and they remember the strength of capable people.

“I’ve been fortunate that most of my military career has been during a time where the level of patriotism was through the roof. I want to continue that through my kids and their generation.”
CW2 Kellen Brown

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