Veteran Without Discharge Papers Denied National Cemetery Funeral

The lifeless body of an 84-year-old man who died on March 2nd has been in waiting since then for a government funded burial at a national cemetery in Ohio.

Eugene Scott Brown, a World War II veteran, was unable to obtain approval for the honorable burial however, because he failed to maintain his military discharge papers over the years.

Brown, who has been in and out of a comatose state for over three years, has been represented by his court appointed legal guardian Don Chapin.

Chapin successfully managed to recover Brown’s date of enlistment, military serial number and other information regarding his military career.

Despite his efforts however, Chapin and the funeral home where Brown’s body is kept were informed recently that processing an approval for a burial in a national cemetery without military discharge papers could take an additional two months.

Fortunately, after hearing of Brown’s case, American Legion officials agreed to provide a burial service and plot for the veteran at the Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Norwich Township.

As Brown’s acting legal guardian, Chapin decided it was best to accept the offer from Post 614 of the American legion rather than draw out the process with the government any longer.

“We’re glad Mr. Brown will finally be laid to rest and get his due,” the director of the funeral home commented.

Mr. Brown was allegedly born in Alabama, and later lived in Ohio where he enrolled in the military on June 29, 1942.

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