JBSA-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Alex Brown, a 6-foot-2-inch, 220-pound defensive end for the Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson High School Jaguars in San Antonio, may be the defensive newcomer of the year. He is the Jaguars’ top sack leader with seven sacks and the second leading tackler at 30 total tackles.
Alex is an aggressive, quick and powerful junior who makes plays against the run and as a pass rusher and is on the verge of breaking the school’s single-season sack record.
But sacking quarterbacks and tackling running backs in the backfield are not the toughest hills Alex has had to climb over the years. As the son of a former Division I football player and active duty Army Officer stationed with U.S. Army North’s Judge Advocate General office at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Alex has seen his father leave the family for multiple deployments including tours of duty in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Growing up in a military family is tough and adventurous, but you have to find ways to cope when parents are deployed,” Alex said. “My sister, Ashley, brother Will and I are fortunate to be in a military family because it means being a part of a special cause that makes our country great.”
Alex further said that the sacrifices of his parents and his teammates support have motivated Alex to succeed on and off the field.
“Growing up in a military family has caused Alex to develop a strong sense of purpose, resiliency, and loyalty to the core principles of our nation,” said Lt. Col. William Brown, Alex’s father. “He has witnessed first-hand the sacrifices that must be made so we may live in freedom.”
Alex’s appreciation and dedication of service to our country, family, and the moral obligations instilled by his father is honored when Alex takes his father’s identification tags with him onto the football field each game night.
“Wearing my father’s dog tags means that I carry with me the strength, support, and inspiration of my entire family,” Alex said. “The Army has meant so much to my life and family, so having a powerful symbol of the military with me on the field demonstrates my respect for the military.”
“Alex appreciates the sacrifices of the men and women in uniform who fight for freedom,” his father said. “The dog tags are a recognition of our family’s commitment to our nation in all aspect of our life.”
His father credits Alex’s achievements through his faith, a strong support system from his teammates, coaches and his self-determination. He said that Alex has developed a strong and significant trust in the values of the Army, family unity, and principles that make our nation great.
“Football is a significant part of our family culture,” Alex said. “It has been a way to bring us closer especially when dad is deployed.”