Service with a Smile

by Patrick Lewandowski

WILMINGTON, Del. – Ask anyone who has been on the Veterans Affairs Medical Center campus for more than a few hours and it’s very likely they have met Willis Brown.

Beyond his cafeteria uniform and paper hat, Brown is a living demonstration of what the words “cheerful service” really mean. He entered the Army in 1977 as a signalman and learned to install telephone wires and equipment. In 1982, he joined the Delaware National Guard, where he was assigned to unit supply headquarters and printed the National Guard newspaper.

Brown said he joined the Army while shopping with his mother on Market Street in Wilmington.

“I heard from someone that a recruiter was giving the ASVAB in the afternoon.  I took the test and he told me I could go to small-unit supply school,” Brown said.

The oldest of six kids “explained” the situation to his stunned, but supportive mother and soon joined the 198th Signal Battalion as a small-unit supply technician and armorer.

“The recruiter gave me two dates and we did all the enlistment stuff except take my oath,” Brown recalled. “I went home and told my mother: ‘Mom, I’m goin’ in the military – she said ‘yea, right, you’re not going in no military.’ I showed her the paperwork and she flipped out. I told her there was no war going on and I had to do something to improve myself. Soon, I was on my way – that was Aug. 23, 1977.”

“Tuna” was about to begin an adventure that would last 13 years, 11 months, six days and six hours (yes, he remembers his total enlistment) and take him to Europe and duty stations across the U.S. Brown counts off the time he spent in the military with fervent pride in his voice — a stark contrast to the protests and violence that wracked the nation during the years he wore a uniform.

Why tuna?

“I am 52 years old and everyone in my life calls me ‘tuna’ – I loved tuna as a kid,” Brown said, “and the name just stuck with me. We moved to Delaware in 1966 and I went to Harlan Elementary School. I graduated from P.S. DuPont High School in 1977 and mom asked me what I was going to do after school. I really didn’t know, I told her I was getting a job.”

After returning home, Brown took his military truck driving experience and signed up with a local limousine service, where he worked nine years. He recalls enjoying the job but had to move on when the owner refused to invest more in the company. Brown then pursued a truck-driving certification and drove for DART for two years. Despite his customer-friendly persona, Brown said the hours spent behind the wheel of a bus dealing with irritated riders took a toll and he began looking elsewhere for work.

He later drove a tanker truck for a marine lubricant company in Wilmington, but the hours were not “family-friendly” and he missed regular interaction with people.

“I had two young boys at home and I was gone too much,” Brown said as he explained his next career move.  “I had to get back close to home. They (his boys) may see me for two days and then I was gone again. I would come on Friday night and by Sunday, I was gone. My oldest boy began getting into trouble and it became obvious where I needed to be. I got close to home and all of that changed. He made his way through school and is working at Amazon.com. I feel very blessed.”

In addition to his sons, Brown has a pair of daughters he can’t help but brag about.

“I have two daughters, both of them are married,” Brown said. “My youngest daughter is 24, the oldest is 30. Both of them work at Christiana Hospital. My youngest daughter graduated last year from Delaware State with a master’s degree in social work.”

Brown attributes his family’s success to a team effort at home.

“I didn’t do it all by myself,” he is quick to say. “It was teamwork and a little help from the man above. I never saw my real daddy a day in my entire life — never. One of my boys is 21 and the other will be 18 in August and coming out of school this month.”

Although his children are from two relationships, Brown remains committed to marriage. His girls’ mother, his high school sweetheart, found someone else while Brown worked on the red tape to unite his family on a post in Germany. “I told her it takes a little time, but apparently she couldn’t wait. My sister wrote me a letter and told me about the situation and it broke my heart.”

Throughout a two-hour interview, Brown maintained his up-beat, easy-going persona. It wasn’t until he told the story about his assignment to Germany and the price he paid for his service that he revealed the true pain he has dealt with. Brown said his work at the Wilmington VAMC has “kept me focused on what’s important.”  In addition to the work he loves, Brown is busy at home with family and fostering new relationships. He celebrated his one-year anniversary on the job in April.

Perseverance paid off for Brown, who diligently watched for job postings here in Wilmington.

“I remember I was on the eighth floor and ran into Mac McCloskey, an old friend from the Delaware National Guard,” Brown said. “We served together and we played basketball together. I also ran two marathons, one in Washington and the other in Nebraska.”
Brown said he also has created a “new life” with his fiancée, Claudia.

Brown’s passion, besides striving to be the best at whatever he does, is horseshoes.

“I love horseshoes,” he said. Between Third and DuPont Street, we built a horseshoe pit. We spend a lot of time there in the summer months. I also take walks along the riverfront with Claudia. I do fast-walk and jump rope to stay in shape.”

Source:  party bus Lubbock, Texas