Jesse L. Brown was the first African American aviator in the U.S. Navy, a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the first African American naval officer killed in the Korean War. Brown's successes in the segregated and desegregated U.S. military were memorialized in several books. The frigate USS Jesse L. Brown (FF-1089) was named in his honor.
| Birth name | Jesse LeRoy Brown |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 October 1926 Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | 4 December 1950 (aged 24) Chosin Reservoir, North Korea |
| Buried |
Chosin Reservoir, North Korea |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1946–1950 |
| Rank |  Ensign |
| Service number | 504477 |
| Unit | Fighter Squadron 32 |
| Battles/wars | Korean War
|
| Awards |
|
Jesse Leroy Brown Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to an impoverished family, Brown was avidly interested in aircraft from a young age. He graduated as salutatorian of his high school, notwithstanding its racial segregation, and was later awarded a degree from Ohio State University. Brown enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1946, becoming a midshipman. Brown earned his pilot wings on 21 October 1948 amid a flurry of press coverage; in January 1949 he was assigned to Fighter Squadron 32 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Leyte.
