Julius William Brown, 96, of Peoria, Ariz., died on May 25, 2013. Julius was born in Ida Grove, Iowa, on Feb. 22, 1917.

He was a three-war Army veteran, serving in Vietnam, Korea and in the Philippines during World War II as a field medic. After World War II, he served as a military escort for two years, returning World War II casualties from overseas to their homes for burial. He served in the Army for more than 30 years, 15 of which were spent overseas, retiring honorably as a command sergeant major, with a date of rank of May 7, 1959. He was a Bronze Star recipient and was a member of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame (2004). He also received the DAR Medal of Honor, along with numerous other decorations and citations. When he retired from the Army, he settled in Albert Lea and worked at Naeve Hospital for six years from 1973 to 1979.

In 1982, he moved to Peoria where he lived for 31 years. Julius was very active as a volunteer, serving as captain of the VFW State Memorial Squad and a member for 11 years performing burial services at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, director of the Luke Air Force Base Retiree Activities Office, driver of a Red Cross van, taking needy elderly to their medical appointments or delivering Meals on Wheels to the homebound and conducted informative classes to Peoria students, to name a few.

Julius leaves behind his wife of 72 years, Frieda; his five children, Julius (Susan) Brown, Jr., Sharon (Jim) Dyson, Sandra (Lee) Jacobson, Clarice (Bill) Burkland and Debra (Charlie) Moonier; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014 or donor’s favorite veteran’s organization.

A burial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85024. Reception to follow at the American Legion Post, 6822 N. 57th Drive, Glendale, AZ 85311. Julius is gone but not forgotten and will be truly missed by his entire family.