Sgt. Walter Scott Brown
Biography

American Legion

   Below is a framed Portrait of Walter Scott Brown in the lower center.Above his portrait appears to be the original front and back of the envelope he sent home.On the back of the envelope has a three cent stamp of George Washington on it which has been cancelled. There is a circular postal stamp which, what I can read says–Anniston May 15, 12 p.m. 1918 McClellan Branch—the letter is addressed to
“Mrs.Charles Brown North Hackensack New Jersey”.

In the upper left where you would put your return address is written
“May 15. 1918- Walt was 19 yrs.” Written up side downand underlined is a note which
is written in script and says “Mother's Day Letter”.

           On the front of the envelope is a sticker where you seal an envelope at the end of the V, of the American emblem with the American Eagle on top of it. At the top of the front of the envelope is written
“From Corp. Walter S. Brown Co. C 114th M.S.O. Infantry, Camp McClellan – Ala.”

            I do not know who wrote the notes on the envelope although we may conclude it was his mother because it was made out to her the note which says “Mother's Day letter” appears to be in different hand writing. The envelope with the cancelled stamp and the Postal stamp on it appears to be the actual envelope. Surrounding
Walter Browns Portrait and the envelope is a hand written copy of the original letter he sent home for Mothers Day in May of 1918. I (Bob Meli) do not know as of February of 2010 who recopied the original letter, it could have been his mother or someone from the Post. Below Walter Brown's Portrait is a blue card which appears to have been written by someone from the Post, explaining the framed letter and where the original letter is and
the blue card reads;

  Sgt. Walter Scott Brown wrote this six-page letter to his mother on Mother's Day, May 12, 1918. The original of this letter has been placed beneath the cornerstone of this building. 

May his spirit, and the spirits of all of our comrades who made the supreme
sacrifice, be with us and guide us, always.

           Walter Scott Brown was only 19 years old when he left with the Hackensack Company C which had been originally Company G. He was an aide to Captain Doremus and Captain Doremus made mention of Walter Brown in a letter home to his wife in October of 1918. In Walter Brown's Mother's obituary on November 3, 1960 it mentions that she was a member of the Harry Doremus.

American Legion Post in Hackensack. We can understand her connection to Harry Doremus who was 42 years old and the
Captain leading much younger men from Hackensack, one being her son only 19 years old who is his aide.Harry Doremus refers
to Walter as “dear Old Walter Brown” and he mentionsothers but the word “old” seem to be used in a longing more grieved way for Walter whom he knew so well and for so long.

The picture of soldiers gathered on the grounds of the Oritani Field Club on September 3, 1917 is probably many of
the company G men including Captain Doremus and Walter Brown who went to France to fight in the Great War.
            One of the strange things about Walter Brown with all of his connections to the city of Hackensack in many ways stronger then other men whose names appear on the City of Hackensack plaque's his name does not appear on one of them.

His name only appears on the memorial stones in Foschini Park. Of course the American Legion Post in
            River Edge also makes the connection to the Hackensack community of the day. It makes one wonder was his mother holding out hope that he survived some how because they had never recovered his body and so she never wanted his name on a plaque till she knew for certain, just a thought no way of knowing. Walter Scott Brown died on October 12, 1918.
Harry Doremus sends a letter home to his wife on October 19, 1918 telling of Walter Brown's death. Harry Doremus is killed in action on October 27, 1918 only eight days after his letter home and only 15 days after the death of Walter Brown. These were trying times for American families and those families from Hackensack whose sons paid the ultimate sacrifice.
           
 You can click here to read the letter that Walter Brown sent Home to his mother on Mother's Day May 12, 1918.

Written by:
Bob Meli
  February 21, 2010