June 4, 1931 (Norwalk, CT) – October 29, 1952; 21 years old; unmarried
Last local address: 42 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Norwalk
Enlisted March 10, 1952; 0311, Rifleman
Service Number: 1248616
Korean War Project Key No: 3433
1ST MARINE DIV, 1st Marine Regiment, 3RD battalion, I COMPANY
Casualty Location: Western Outposts, South Korea
Awarded the Purple Heart Medal
Private First Class Browne was a member of the 1st Marine Division. He was wounded in the neck on October 27, 1952 while fighting the enemy in Korea. He was transferred to the hospital ship the USS Consolation and died of those wounds on October 29, 1952.
From The Norwalk Hour December 23, 1952
Funeral services for PFC Donald C. Browne were held Saturday morning at 9:15 from the late home, 42 Chestnut Hill Avenue, and at 10 o’clock in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle where a solemn requiem, mass was celebrated. Rev. Francis E. Fenton was the celebrant. Rev. John V. Horgan, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church, deacon, and Rev. Henry E. Flanagan, sub-deacon. Interment took place in St. John’s Cemetery where committal services were conducted by Father Flanagan and Father Fenton. The pallbearers were SSgt JJ Blank Jr., SSgt R.W. Conrad, SSgt J. Kaminaly, SSgt I.A. Vadala, PC P.M. Santeke, and SSgt J.G. Lommerse, all of the USMC. Honorary bearers were Bernardo Loeffke, Elliott Vurgason, Thomas Chabalis, Robert Liebfred, Richard A. Rust, John Pavese. Cadets and Major Richmond L. Scott of the Peekskill Military Academy and associates of PFC Browne. The firing squad consisted of Officer in Charge, 1st Lt. Samuel P. Friedson, National Guard, Westport, MSgt Stewart Black, SFC P.W. Uhl, Cpl Richard Hammond, Cpl Edward Scarpone, PFC John Splan, Pvt Robert Sutherland, and Pvt William Satherlass. Donald Burr was the bugler. The services were largely attended and there were many beautiful floral tributes.
Private Browne is buried Saint John’s Cemetery, Norwalk; Section A, Lot 64, Grave 2.
