Arthur E . Brown , Jr . Arthur Edmon Brown , Jr . was a United States Army four - star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army ( VCSA ) from 1987 to 1989 . Military career . Brown was born on November 21 , 1929 in Manila , Philippines , the son of an Army dental surgeon . After graduating from high school , he attended the University of Alabama for two years before being accepted to West Point . He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1953 and was commissioned in the infantry , and also married the former Jerry Cook immediately upon graduation . After graduating from Airborne and Ranger School , he was assigned as a rifle platoon leader with the 508th Airborne Regimental Combat Team . He was a company commander in the 60th Infantry Regiment , He went to Vietnam with the Military Advisory Assistance Group - Vietnam from 1962 to 1963 , receiving the Combat Infantryman Badge , Bronze Star , and an Army Commendation Medal with " V " device . Upon returning to the U . S . he attended the University of Pittsburgh and earned a master ' s degree , and then was assigned to the Directorate of Plans , Army Combat Development Command , and awarded a Legion of Merit for his work on the " Assessment of Combat Effectiveness Study " and the " Dynamics of Firepower and Maneuver Study " , as well as for his efforts as a member of the " Pacification Role in Vietnam Study Group " and his work with the Institute of Land Combat . He served as executive officer to the U . S . Representative , NATO Military Committee in Belgium , from 1967 to 1968 , earning a Joint Service Commendation Medal . He graduated from the Army War College and returned to Vietnam in 1969 for a second tour , commanding the 1st Battalion , 52nd Infantry Regiment of the Americal Division and serving as an advisor to the 9th Infantry Division , Army of the Republic of Vietnam . While commanding the battalion he was awarded the Silver Star , the Bronze Star Medal with " V " device , the Legion of Merit , the Distinguished Flying Cross , and the Air Medal . After his second Vietnam tour he returned to the Army War College as Director , Arms Control and Disarmament Studies , and later served as Director , General Purpose Forces Strategy Studies . His work there earned him a third Legion of Merit . He went on to command the 1st Brigade , 1st Infantry Division , and worked as a division chief and executive officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations from 1975 to 1978 , receiving a fourth Legion of Merit . Brown next served as Assistant Division Commander , 25th Infantry Division from 1978 to 1980 . He returned to West Point as Deputy Superintendent , and his tenure there also had him responsible for the welcome , housing , and transition of the American hostages that had been released from Iran , for which he received a Meritorious Service Medal . In 1981 , he took command of Mobilization and Readiness Region IV , which was responsible for Reserve and National Guard units in five southeastern states , Puerto Rico , and the Virgin Islands . As a Lieutenant General in 1983 , he was assigned as Director of the Army Staff , and oversaw the greatest modernization program since World War II . This included the transition to the M1 Abrams , the M2 / M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle , UH - 60 Blackhawk , AH - 64 Apache , and the creation or transition to four light infantry divisions : the 6th , 7th , 10th and 25th Infantry Divisions . He also managed the staff reorganization mandated by the Goldwater - Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 and served as a member of the Stilwell Commission on security . He was also responsible for providing guidance on public affairs matters during a time which saw the Gander aircraft disaster and Operation Urgent Fury . For his work as the Director of the Army Staff , he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal . In June 1987 , he was appointed to the post of Vice Chief of Staff of the Army . He served as Chief of the U . S . Delegation to the 1987 American , British , Canadian , and Australian Conference on Military Standardization and provided analyses and advice on the Intermediate - range Nuclear Force Arms Control Treaty . He retired in 1989 , and was awarded both the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and Army Distinguished Service Medal . Post military career . After retiring from the military , he served in various community service positions , including serving on the board of the United Way of Beaufort County , South Carolina , serving as a trustee of the Technical College of the Lowcountry Foundation and later as chairman , and serving on the board of the Hilton Head Island Foundation . He was the 2002 Distinguished Graduate Award recipient from the Association of Graduates , the United States Military Academy alumni association . Notes . In 2010 General Brown was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the University of Pittsburgh ' s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs .