U.S. Navy Machinist's Mate First Class Stanley Irvin Brown was born March 5, 1922, at Wolsey, South Dakota, to Gabriel George "Gay" and Ossie (Hamby) Brown. He had three sisters: Mavis, Ethel, and Leola, and a half-sister, Denise Balvin. Stanley was raised and educated in Wolsey. While he was in school, Stanley played basketball and was in FFA.

In June of 1939, when Stanley was seventeen, he enlisted in the Navy. At eighteen he signed on for foreign service and was assigned to the USS Omaha and spent the next three years in Central and South America. In December of 1942, Machinist's Mate Stanley Brown was home on leave. After that he was transferred to the USS Turner and then later was assigned to a different destroyer, the USS Ross.

On October 19, 1944, during the invasion of Leyte, Philippines, Machinist's Mate Stanley Brown was killed in action. From the ship's commander came these words: "Your son was in charge of the forward engine room prior to our first damage on October 19. He remained on station and bravely carried on until damage was received at his station. I know he had little or no suffering for he was killed instantly. His body was recovered October 22 and he was buried at sea near Leyte, Philippine Islands, at the same time as several other shipmates." Stanley is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

At the time of his death, Stanley was survived by his mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Balvin; and his sisters, Mavis , Ethel (Boyle), Leola (Hartley), and Denise. His father and an infant brother preceded him in death.

This entry was respectfully submitted to the Fallen Sons and Daughters of South Dakota Project by Sheila Hansen, Fallen Sons State Coordinator, Spearfish, SD. Information for this entry was provided by newspaper clippings, an application for a SD veteran's bonus payment, and by Denise Balvin Klicker, Wolsey, SD, half-sister of Stanley Brown.