93-year-old continues to serve

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Melanie Holochwost
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Even though retired Command Sgt. Maj. Julius Brown served 33 years in the Army and fought in three different wars, he isn't finished serving his country. Mr. Brown has been volunteering regularly at the Retired Activities Office on Luke Air Force Base since 1983.

Mr. Brown said he volunteers at Luke out of habit, because he is accustomed to being around the military.

"I live in Peoria so Luke isn't far," he said. "I like to keep myself busy and active, because it is good for my health, and volunteering is something I enjoy. I don't like being bored, and since I'm a retiree myself, working at the RAO is perfect for me."

Mr. Brown said he joined the Army one year prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

"I was never drafted," he said. "I joined back then because it was the thing to do. And, traveling the world with my family sure beat being bored, living in a small town and never being able to go anywhere."

But, being in the military wasn't always fun, Mr. Brown said. Fighting in World War II, Korea and Vietnam kept him far away from his family for long periods of time.

"War wasn't very nice," he said. "I was away from my family for two, three, even five years at a time. The food was awful. In Korea we picked a random can out of a large pot at the chow hall. Sometimes it was potatoes, sometimes beans, you never knew what you were going to get. But in the end, I was one of the lucky ones. Unlike many Soldiers, I eventually made it back home."

Although his favorite assignment was Germany, Mr. Brown said he was also stationed at other highly desirable places like Japan, Guam and Hawaii.

"I liked Germany because it was relaxing," he said. "There was good food and beer, it was clean and most importantly, there was no war going on."

Mr. Brown said he plans on volunteering as long as he is able.

"The retiree's office is basically a liaison between active-duty members and retirees," he said. "Even though the office isn't very busy, I still get the opportunity to help people, which is something all of us at the retiree's office love to do."

According to Gary Westrack, RAO director, Mr. Brown is a huge asset to the office.