Brown, Jesse, 1944-2002

Jesse Brown (March 27, 1944 – August 15, 2002) was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, nonprofit professional, and American cabinet official. He served as United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997.

Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Chicago, Illinois, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1963. During the Vietnam War, he was seriously wounded while patrolling near DaNang. The injury left his right arm completely paralyzed. For his sacrifice, Brown received the Purple Heart and an honorable discharge. Returning to Chicago, Brown became active in the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), a service and advocacy organization founded in 1920 to assist disabled veterans. He began taking classes at Roosevelt University in Chicago before graduating from Kennedy-King College. Moving to the DAV's national office in Washington, D.C., he began taking classes at The Catholic University of America.

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