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Hampshire Battleship
Brown was in training for 2-3 weeks. There he was taught everything he needed to know. This training was different then any other training Brown had been in. Brown had to work twice as hard had to get ready for this battle. After he was done with all his training he got put on the Hampshire Battleship. -
How Brown joined
To join the military you had to be 18. So Brown joined because he lied about his age. He told them he was 18 when he was actually 16. The date listed on his drivers license was October 7, 1899, when his actual birthday was October 7, 1901. By lying about is age he was able to join the Military. -
Training
Brown was sent to Great Lakes training station in Illinois, near Chicago. There Brown was taught to row boats, slice big ropes and put them back together. That was for tying ships to the docks. They also taught Brown to swim but he already knew how to before he joined. "It was really tough but worth it" Brown said. -
Growing up in the 1900s
Brown was just a kid in a small town. His father owned a small business and he would sometimes work there. They killed hogs and smoked them to eat. They used iceboxes as refrigerators because they didn't have one. Also they would put milk in the Spring so it would stay cold. "It was normal for us though, in the little town we lived in". -
Serving
Lloyd Brown served in World War I from 1914-1918. During his four years of serving he served in Norfolk, Virginia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Great Lakes, Illinois and Atlantic Ocean. He was ranked in the seaman second class. Lloyd Brown aboard the U.S.S, New Hampshire in 1918. Brown was the last known US Navy Veteran to fight in WWI. -
Why Brown joined the Military/Navy
It was a matter of patriotism. Most all the young men were enlisted and brown went along with the crowed. He joined the military because he liked the idea of traveling and ships going to different countries. Brown preferred ships rather then the Army. The war started in 1914 and at the time he was 13 years old. He joined in 1918 and was 16 years old. -
Armistice was signed
Browns ship was in the Philadelphia Navy Yard when they signed the Armistice. They didn't let anyone go anywhere. They had to stay for awhile after Armistice was signed. The war Ended. The roles changed. -
Back to duty
Brown reported back to active duty on April 2, 1918. Navel training station, Great Lakes, Illinois, and was released from active duty October 6, 1919. The day before his birthday. Brown was 17 going to be 18 at the time. He was discharged as seaman second class. -
After Armistice was signed
After Armistice was signed, Brown was an ordinary seaman. He kept the ships cleaned. The decks holy stoned. It was like a little break from Armistice. He focused on making sure the ships were in good condition for when they had to leave. That was Browns main focus. -
Second reenlistment
Brown reenlisted and they sent him to Hampton Roads, Virginia. He applied for music school. He went to school and learned how to play a string instrument. A while later he also learned to play the saxophone. He was there for about a year or so. -
Graduating School
Brown went to school in Norfolk, Virginia. He graduated there as a musician. He was later sent with another musician to play to the flag ships. At that time he was playing the cello. Then that became a job. He stayed with that in tell he was discharged. -
Traveling
Brown really liked traveling. Thanks to deployment he got to go all over the world. Something had he never thought he would get to do. Even though it was during taught times he still got to travel. Something is is thankful for. -
Fire department
Brown became really interested in the fire department. When he got out of the navy he didn't have a job. Brown took examination for the fire department and stayed with the unit in tell retirement. He really liked it. It was something he wanted to do for the rest of his life.