veterans
AMVETS Post #12 Washington D.C. Welcomes 102-Year-Old WWII Veteran Rev. Dr. Arlester Brown as Ambassador
Rev. Dr. Arlester Brown, a 102-year-old WWII D-Day veteran wounded by a German V-1 bomb in 1945 and decorated with the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and France's Legion of Honour, joins AMVETS Post #12 Washington D.C. as ambassador. After decades of bureaucratic barriers, the Post is helping him secure the veterans' benefits he earned, and he'll now champion its Never Forgotten Fund to support other veterans facing similar fights.
Commander Anthony (Tony) B. Goodesmith
2026-08-21
Commander Anthony “Tony” B. Goodesmith is a veteran advocate and community leader serving as Commander of AMVETS Post #12 Washington D.C. Under his leadership, the Post is expanding its reach, strengthening partnerships, and connecting veterans with resources related to VA claims, financial empowerment, housing support, community service, and membership. His work is grounded in a commitment to ensuring that veterans are recognized, supported, and never forgotten.
One of the last surviving D-Day veterans finally receives the benefits he is owed
Drafted into the U.S. Army at age 18, Rev. Dr. Brown served with the 599th Quartermaster Laundry Company, supporting Allied forces as they advanced across France, the Netherlands, and into Germany following the D-Day invasion. In January 1945, he was seriously wounded when a German V-1 flying bomb exploded near his unit, earning him the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat.
After returning home, Rev. Dr. Brown pursued higher education and devoted his life to serving others. A graduate of Grambling State University, he is a hall of fame football player who played under legendary head coach Eddie Robinson. Despite his distinguished military record, he spent decades encountering barriers to receiving the veterans’ benefits he had earned. Today, AMVETS Post #12 Washington D.C. is working alongside Rev. Dr. Brown to help him secure those long-overdue benefits, while ensuring that every veteran receives the care, benefits, and recognition they have earned through their service to the nation.
“Rev. Dr. Arlester Brown’s courage on the battlefield, lifetime of service, and perseverance in the face of decades of bureaucratic obstacles remind us exactly why AMVETS Post #12 Washington D.C. exists,” said Anthony Goodesmith, Commander of AMVETS Post #12 Washington D.C. “No veteran who answered our country’s call should have to fight for their benefits. We’re proud to stand beside Rev. Dr. Brown as we fight for veterans to receive the care, respect, and support they’ve earned, and we’re honored that he’ll help lead that mission as an ambassador.”
As an AMVETS Post #12 Washington D.C. ambassador, Rev. Dr. Brown will help champion the Post’s Never Forgotten Fund, a community impact initiative dedicated to turning remembrance into practical support for veterans and military families. Through events, sponsorships, donations, and partner outreach, the program raises resources for direct veteran support while building public awareness and long-term community commitment.
