Louis J. Brown, Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in November 1925. His father was a welder by trade and stayed employed through out the Great Depression. He always had food to eat. Along with his parents and two sisters, he lived in the same household as his grandparents and aunt. He loved the neighborhood he grew up in. He always played a sport or game in the park that was located across from his house. Brown was 16 years old when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941]. He was playing pitch and catch with a neighbor when he was told of the news. He wanted to volunteer for the Marine Corps when he was 17, but his mother did not allow him to. He attended Tulane [Annotator's Note: Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana] for one semester and then entered the Army Air Corps in August 1943. He became interested in joining the Air Corps after he saw a movie on it. He received orders to report for active duty on Christmas Eve 1943. He was shipped to Camp Beauregard [Annotator's Note: in Pineville, Louisiana] to be inducted and receive his uniforms. He was then sent to Wichita Falls, Texas for basic training. He did a lot of combat training. He learned how to throw a grenade, use a bayonet, crawl under wire, and march together as a unit. Overall, he enjoyed his basic training experience. Brown passed all the tests to qualify for cadet training. He was sent to Stockton Field, California then to Ellensburg, Washington and went to school to become a cadet. The purpose of that school was to teach him to be a gentleman. After completing school, he was sent to Mather Field, California. He enjoyed staying there, but was soon transferred to Victorville, California. He almost got into some trouble with the MPs [Annotator's Note: Military Police] when he got off the train to buy some beer. Victorville as very wild looking. Brown trained on many planes.

Louis J. Brown, Jr. and a friend bought a 1929 Model A convertible [Annotator's Note: 1929 Ford Model A convertible] for 75 dollars. They decided to drive to Los Angeles [Annotator's Note: Los Angeles, California]. They ran out of gas on the way there and when he got a to gas station, he found out that kerosene was put into his car. The mechanic drained it out and refilled it with gas. The car ran great after that. He enjoyed his stay at the Beverly Hotel in Los Angeles. He saw many stars coming in and out. He attended a Stage Door Canteen performance and was selected to come on stage where many famous Hollywood celebrities were standing. Jane Wyman [Annotator's Note: Sarah Jane Mayfield; American Actress] walked up to him and gave him a piece a cake and told him to giver her a good kiss. When he did, the crowd roared with pleasure. After meeting celebrities like Hedy Lamarr, Ronald Reagan, Jane Wyman, Jimmy Durante, June Allyson, and Jane Powell he felt like he was in heaven. He later returned to a second show. During this time, Brown was training to be a cadet in the Army Air Corps. After completing cadet school, Brown was selected to go to Randolph Field [Annotator's Note: Universal City, Texas] to be trained in aviation medicine. He recalls being tested on swinging on a rope and different motion training. Then he was sent to Amarillo, Texas for B-29 [Annotator's Note: Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bomber] training. Two weeks before receiving his commission as a flight engineer, World War 2 ended. He was assigned to the 20th Air Force, but his assignment was cancelled. Brown kept up closely with what was going on overseas, and he was very excited about participating in the war effort. He was disappointed that he would not have a chance to go over and fight. He was given the choice to stay in the service or be discharged. Brown chose to separate from the Army Air Corps as a cadet. Brown cannot recall his reason to separate from service, but he does remember he was anxious to return home.

Louis J. Brown, Jr. reflects on the B-29 [Annotator's Note: Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bomber]. He first laid eyes on it in Amarillo [Annotator's Note: Amarillo, Texas] and thought it was a magnificent piece of equipment. He thought it was great that it was pressurized. As a flight engineer his job was to monitor the fuel system of the plane. He was so anxious to be on that plane and drop bombs on Japan. He was discharged from service in November 1945 as an aviation cadet. Brown thought World War 2 allowed him to mature as an adult. He was able to use the G.I. Bill and received an education. He married and worked four jobs after the war. Brown believes it's important to have institutions like The National WWII Museum [Annotator's Note: in New Orleans, Louisiana] to continue to teach future generations.