Red Hot Mamas proud of their veteran connections
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 11 years, 1 month AGO
The Red Hot Mamas - a Coeur d'Alene-based performance group - marked Veterans Day this year by sharing veterans stories with Press readers. This is the final story in that series.
The mamas will be in New York City to perform in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Judey Brown
Age: 58
Married: 27 years, currently single, two children
Degree: Bachelor's in psychology
Realtor with Tomlinson/Sotheby's International Realty.
Red Hot Mama: 5 years
Enjoyments: Family. Friends. Red Hot Mamas. Swimming. Dogs. Home. Love. God.
RHM Besties: Smiles. Laughter. Camaraderie. New Friends. Awesome Women. MaMasBoyz.
RHM Tuffies: Balancing family, kids, work and rehearsals.
Judey enjoys serving God through the RHM and appreciates helping people in RHM monthly community service projects. She is a thriving, giving woman who faced her life being turned upside down, and became stronger during the passage.
One day, after 27 years of marriage, she was served divorce papers without warning. The divorce was unexpected and unkind. She found herself totally out of her comfort zone. She was suddenly and unwillingly without her life partner.
She laments, "I was lonely, uncertain, and scared - but also strong, stable, and committed." She recognized the love of precious ones in her life and knew she had to make her own way. That's when she earned her realtor education and became the famous realtor: "Downtown Judey Brown."
Helping people to smile and laugh in RHM brings Judey a feeling of fulfillment.
"Being part of something bigger is an important way to deal with personal challenges," she said.
Veteran Father: Don Carter - Sergeant U.S. Army, June 1943 - October 1945
Combat duty: Armored Artillery/ Tank Commander
Deployed: Utah Beach, Normandy, Northern France, Paris, Germany, Battle of the Bulge, other parts of Europe
Awards: European Combat Ribbon with 5 Battle Stars. Good Conduct Medal. Victory Medal.
Rewards: Won the war and helped the country. Satisfaction and service. College GI Bill.
Challenges: Lack of choice in the draft. Deployment without a timeframe. Lack of shower, bed, bathroom, good food, cleanliness, shoes, comfort, and medical and dental services. No food. Battles and the fear of death all around.
Family's view: Worried. They didn't want him to go to war.
Public reception: Celebrated as a hero.
Veteran Son: Mason Brown - Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, 2006 - 2010.
Deployed: Guam, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, North Africa
Awards: Meritorious Mast. Global War on Terror Medal. Humanitarian Aid. Two Sea Service medals.
Rewards: Traveled the world. Saw life outside the American bubble mentality. College GI Bill. The greatest and most difficult thing he has ever done. Feeling of patriotism. New respect for veterans and the importance of a military.
Challenges: Homesickness. Lack of creature comforts. Physically demanding. Austere conditions.
Family's View: Nervous. Worried about how he would cope being away from home in the military lifestyle, and that he would go to the Middle East war zones.
Public Reception: Respect. Thanks. Appreciation.