Submitted photos Boardman resident Jan Brown serves as the first woman national commander of AMVETS. Growing up in Washington state, Brown made a career traveling the world while serving in the U.S. Air Force.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a series published each Monday between Memorial Day and Veterans Day honoring local veterans. To nominate a veteran, email metro editor Marly Reichert at mreichert@tribtoday.com.

BOARDMAN — Jan Brown didn’t realize when she was at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station for a temporary duty assignment that her time in the Mahoning Valley would turn to something permanent.

A phone call with a man named John P. Brown III happened through her recruiting responsibilities, with both of the strong-willed veterans having a conversation to match their personalities. It was during the Canfield Fair when he asked who she was, never having seen her before. The two met, and the rest became history.

“We kept in touch and got married a couple of years later” in 1998, Brown said.

Born in Oregon, Brown grew up in Aberdeen, Wash.

She graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1973, leaving for basic training 10 days after high school wrapped up.

That marked the beginning of Brown’s worldly travels that ultimately landed her in Boardman.

Basic training was in Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Then, Brown went to Sheppard Air Force Base in Witchita Falls, Texas, where she studied to be a medical lab technician. She then went to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, completing phase II of her training.

Finally, she went to the Philippines, where she was stationed during the fall of Saigon, Vietnam, as a medical lab tech in a hospital.

She remembers the time fondly.

“It was a very interesting tour,” Brown said, noting she was there during Operation Babylift.

There were curfews off-base, but even with all the commotion, Brown was never scared.

“I was never afraid. I’d get a friend and we’d get on ‘rabbit’ buses, going all over the island,” Brown said. The people were friendly, she said.

Once she departed the Philippines, Brown went to Germany. “I was there during the bicentennial,” she said, then went to Turkey two days after the celebration to help in labs during a malaria outbreak.

Turkey, she said, was “fascinating.” Brown stood where the Crusades happened in the Middle Ages.

“You’re looking at bridges that were built during the time of Christ, and they’re still used,” Brown said.

Again, she never felt afraid, noting that she respected the culture by dressing conservatively and following laws.

After she was done overseas, Brown went to Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Then she went to Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where she joined the Air Force Reserves.

She slightly changed her military career once she moved to Austin, Texas, working as a recuiter, which led her to Indiana and Georgia, where she retired in 2000.

As Jan and John set up their life in Boardman, she fell in love with the people.

“I like it here. I like the people here. They say the South is friendly, but they got nothing on Youngstown,” Brown said.

Brown also enjoys the variety of food.

Where she lived in Georgia, there was one family-owned restaurant surrounded by chains.

Here, there are many local places to eat: Elmton, Donavito’s, Alberini’s and Carchedi’s, Brown said.

“I understand why (chains) leave here,” she said. The local options are unbeatable.

“I always tell people I moved here for the food and festivals,” Brown said.

From 1995 until the pandemic, Brown attended the Canfield Fair each year. She has worked the veterans’ area.

Brown’s service continues.

She was named the first woman as national commander of the AMVETS in 2019.

“Most veterans are men,” she said as to why the position has been traditionally held by men.

Her husband, John, supported her decision to chase after her dream of becoming commander, but he also understands the role as he also was national commander in 2007.

“God said, ‘This is your time,'” Brown said. It wasn’t about becoming the first woman national commander, but rather it was her time to “step up,” she said.

The role is usually for one year, but due to COVID-19 she, along with other officers, kept their titles for another year.

Until the end of her term, she’s in Maryland where AMVETS is headquartered, just outside of Washington, D.C.

In addition to her husband, John, Brown has a stepdaughter, Stephanie Brown, and two grandchildren, Angela and Ryan Nerone.

Angela is in the U.S. Coast Guard and asks Brown for her opinion on various opportunities.

A fun fact is that while she’s 66, she can claim a year younger.

While she was flying over the international dateline going to the Philippines, she officially turned 20.

“I figure I can skip a year later on,” she said with a laugh.

afox@vindy.com