Warrant Officer Dennis Raymond Brown: A Canadian Hero
Dennis Raymond Brown was born on August 26, 1970, in the vibrant city of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. From an early age, Dennis was known for his strong sense of loyalty and an unwavering commitment to helping others. These qualities were deeply rooted in his upbringing in a close-knit family, where he was the youngest of 5 sons (John, Jim, Scott, and Donald)to parents, Edward and Cecelia Brown. Dennis was a proud and enthusiastic father to Jenna, Mac, Owen & Ben, of whom he loving referred to as "The JMOB".
The Brown's were a typical Canadian family, and their home was filled with love, laughter,(hockey equipment) and stories of their Newfoundland heritage.
After graduating from Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School and some College, Dennis pursued a Infantry Reservist career in the Canadian Armed Forces, a decision driven by his desire to serve his country. At the age of 18, and with is friend, Steve Ward, enlisted on October 31, 1988, and his natural leadership abilities and sharp mind quickly set him apart from his peers. Dennis was known for his ability to stay calm under pressure and his knack for strategic thinking, qualities that earned him the respect of both his superiors and subordinates.
In the 1995, Dennis met Amanda (Amy) Warnock. Despite the failure of their marriage, Dennis and Amanda shared 3 sons .
In July 1996, on Dennis's most beloved day, Canada Day, his son, (Michael) Mackenzie was born. Dennis was overjoyed at becoming a father and embraced his new role with enthusiasm.
Dennis would have been incredibly proud to see Mackenzie follow a similar path in life. After building a distinguished career as a Reservist in the Canadian Armed Forces and serving as a Special Constable with the Niagara Regional Police Service, Dennis dedicated his life to service and protection. Tragically, Dennis passed away when Mackenzie was just 12 years old, but had he lived to see the man his son became, serving with honor with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment and as a respected Police Officer with the Niagara Regional Police Service, his heart would have swelled with pride.
In 1997, Jenna was born, and although she wasn’t Dennis’s biological daughter, he "adopted" her as his own and created a special bond between them. They shared countless fun moments together, whether it was eating ice cream or acting silly—something Dennis was known for.
Jenna, like Dennis, had a deep love for animals, and it was her passion that convinced him to bring another dog, Zhara, into their already lively household of 4 kids and his beloved dog, Kombo. While Dennis was deployed in Afghanistan, he fell in love with a dog named Tennis, a testament to his love for animals, a trait Jenna shared.
Dennis would have been immensely proud of Jenna, especially considering the challenges she faced after his death when she was just 12 years old. Losing Dennis and feeling disconnected from her brothers and Dennis's friends who were once like family, Jenna had to grow up quickly. While Dennis would have been deeply saddened by the way she became separated from her brothers and his friends, he would be incredibly proud of her strength and determination. Jenna persevered through these difficulties, completing both college and university to become a Registered Veterinary Technician, fulfilling her passion for caring for animals just as Dennis would have hoped.
In 1999, Dennis joyfully welcomed his son Owen into the world, despite Owen’s early arrival as a premature baby. The challenges were significant, with a long hospital stay and later eye surgery, but Dennis was faithfully by his side every step of the way. From the beginning, Dennis sensed that Owen was different, recognizing at a young age that his son was gay. Though the times weren’t as open, Dennis’s love for Owen was unconditional. Dennis fully embraced Owen’s boundless imagination and zest for life, quickly realizing hockey and baseball weren't Owen's referred sports.
Tragically, Dennis passed away when Owen was just 9 years old, missing out on seeing his son grow into the quick witted, strong-minded and outspoken man he was destined to become—traits they both shared. Dennis would have been so proud to watch Owen shine in dance competitions and pursue a career as a travel agent, specializing in LGBTQ travel. Dennis would have been proud beyond measure of the resilient and passionate person Owen grew up to be.
In 2001, Dennis’s youngest son, Benjamin, was born. From an early age, Benjamin idolized his father, often dressing up in Dennis’s military or police uniforms and proudly declaring that he wanted to grow up to be just like his dad. He was Dennis’s little shadow, following him everywhere and sharing in his love of fishing. Dennis was deeply proud of Benjamin, especially for his kind and loving nature, despite the challenges they both faced with dyslexia.
Although Benjamin was only 6 when Dennis was tragically killed, his father's influence left a lasting impact. Dennis would have been incredibly proud to see Benjamin fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a construction worker, a career he had aspired to since watching *Bob the Builder* as a young boy. More than anything, Dennis would be proud of the close bond Benjamin continues to share with his brothers, a testament to the strong family values Dennis instilled in his children.
Dennis met Mishelle Chaloner in 2001 when they both worked at the Niagara Regional Police (NRP). Initially, Dennis's smart-mouthed, know-it-all attitude drove Mishelle crazy, but after being "stuck" to work together for six weeks, they became good friends. By late 2002, they started dating, fell in love, and merged their families, which Dennis fondly dubbed the "J-MOB" (Jenna, Mac, Owen, Ben). Their modest house was always lively, filled with four kids and two dogs. Dennis affectionately referred to Mishelle as his "cracker," a nickname that originated from a moment they shared watching a young boy enjoy a bag of crackers. Dennis would often say, "I love you, it's just me and my cracker," as a way of expressing his deep love and devotion, she referred to him as her handsome prince.
Known for their quick wit and adventurous spirit, they were a wild couple who never shied away from speaking their minds. Dennis was eight years older than Mishelle but always had a youthful energy, that took them on wild adventures and trouble with every step.
Though they initially saw no need for marriage, they eventually tied the knot on July 22, 2008, just before Dennis's deployment to Afghanistan, ensuring his family would be taken care of in case of his death. They faced trials and tribulations like any couple, but their love remained unwavering. They had even planned to have more children after Dennis's return from Afghanistan, a return that was tragically cut short when he died just 60 days before he was due to come home.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dennis served in various conflict zones, playing vital roles in peacekeeping missions in Cambodia and combat operations in Afghanistan. His dedication and bravery earned him several prestigious honors, including the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD), the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia Medal, the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, the General Campaign Star – South-West Asia (GCS-SWA) for his tour in Afghanistan, and the Sacrifice Medal, awarded posthumously.
In early 1992, Dennis and his friend Steve Ward deployed, as part of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) mission, one of the largest peacekeeping efforts of its time. The mission involved over 20,000 peacekeepers who monitored the ceasefire, disarmed warring factions, and facilitated the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of refugees in preparation for a national election. Among the approximately 700 Canadian Armed Forces members who served with UNTAC, Dennis played a crucial role in providing logistical support. This included transporting supplies, coordinating the movement of UN personnel, and ensuring the successful execution of the mission’s objectives in a country still plagued by guerrilla activity and widespread banditry. His experience and expertise greatly contributed to the mission's success.
In 2008, after 9 months of workup training at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Petawawa, Dennis and several other Lincoln and Welland Regiment soldiers, including his best friend, Dan Creamer, deployed to Afghanistan joining Operation (OP) Athena.
Operation Athena was Canada's military contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, focusing on stabilizing the region and combating insurgency. The operation began in 2003 and had multiple phases, with its mission evolving over time as the conflict dynamics changed. The focus was on reconstruction, training Afghan forces, and improving security, particularly in Kandahar province, where Canadian forces were heavily involved.
Between September 2008 to March 2009
the security situation in Afghanistan remained precarious, with the Taliban and other insurgent groups intensifying their activities. Kandahar, a key area of Canadian responsibility, was a major focus for these insurgent operations. The Canadian Forces (CF) were tasked with maintaining security, supporting Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), and assisting in reconstruction efforts. These months were marked by increasing insurgent attacks, including the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which posed significant risks to both military personnel and civilians.
In December 2008, Dennis joined the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team 4, a unit within the Canadian Forces, that was specifically tasked with handling explosive threats during this phase of OP Athena. EOD4 was actively involved in various operations across Kandahar province. The primary role of EOD teams was to identify, neutralize, and safely remove IEDs. These devices were often hidden on roadsides, in vehicles, or in buildings, posing a significant danger to patrols and convoys.
EOD teams also played a role in training Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP) personnel in bomb detection and disposal techniques. This training was crucial for building local capacity to deal with explosive threats independently.
EOD teams provided direct support to Canadian and allied ground forces during operations, ensuring that areas were cleared of explosive threats before troops advanced. This was particularly important during key offensives against insurgent strongholds.
By December 2008, insurgent use of IEDs had increased significantly, with devices becoming more sophisticated and difficult to detect. Dennis and his team was on high alert, responding to numerous IED incidents across their area of operations. One notable operation involved the clearing of a major supply route used by Canadian and allied forces. This operation was critical in ensuring the safe passage of convoys delivering essential supplies to remote outposts.
In January 2009, EOD teams participated in a series of joint operations with the ANA and ANP. These operations focused on disrupting insurgent networks responsible for manufacturing and deploying IEDs. They worked closely with Afghan forces to locate and destroy IED caches, significantly reducing the number of devices available to insurgents.
On January 1, 2009, Dennis and his team demonstrated exceptional bravery when they thwarted a suicide attack in the district of Shawwali Kot, north of Kandahar city. A man attempted to drive a vehicle loaded with explosives, including two 250-kilogram and one 100-kilogram Soviet-era aircraft bombs, directly into their security patrol. Recognizing the imminent danger, the soldiers acted swiftly, shooting and killing the would-be bomber before he could detonate the device. The potential devastation was immense—the explosives could have killed everyone on foot within a 260-meter radius and caused significant damage within a 1,500-meter range. This quick action undoubtedly saved many lives that day.
February 2009 saw one of the most intense periods of activity for EOD teams. The operation, code-named "Spearhead," aimed to push insurgents out of key districts in Kandahar province.
Particularly challenging to Operation Spearhead was the discovery of a large IED factory in a village near the Arghandab River. Dennis's teams spent several days dismantling and safely disposing of the explosives, which included a variety of homemade devices designed to target both vehicles and personnel.
By March 2009, Dennis was preparing for the transition of responsibilities to another rotation of Canadian forces and due to return home on May 10, 2009. Dennis and Mishelle had already planned a suprise homecoming where Mishelle would take the kids to the waterpark and Dennis would come down one of slides to see the kids for the 1st time in 10 months.
On March 3, 2009, Warrant Officer Brown and two fellow Canadian soldiers, Cpl. Dany Fortin and Cpl. Kenneth O’Quinn's bison armoured vehicle was the focus of a targeted attack on their EOD team. The team was conducting a patrol mission in the Arghandab District, Kandahar Province, when an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated under their vehicle.
The attack was a deliberate strike on the unit tasked with disarming explosives and ensuring the safety of others in one of Afghanistan’s most volatile regions.
The explosion was devastating, and despite the best efforts of his 2 surviving team mates, Daryl Dawson and Mike Jones and medical personnel, Dennis, Chad, and Dany succumbed to their injuries.
Dennis was known for his dedication to Canada and the mission to create a better future for the Afghan people. He led his EOD team with bravery and a deep sense of duty, always placing the safety of his comrades and civilians first. His leadership and skill in the field were well-recognized by those who served alongside him.
The devastating attack in the Arghandab District was a grim reminder of the dangers Canadian soldiers faced daily. The loss of Dennis and his fellow soldiers reverberated throughout the military community and his hometown of St. Catharines, Ontario. It highlighted the ongoing challenges of the mission in Afghanistan and the immense sacrifices made by Canadian forces working to stabilize the region.
In the wake of the tragedy, Canadian officials reaffirmed their commitment to the mission in Afghanistan. "The commitment of our service men and women to this goal is not diminished by these attacks," a government spokesperson stated, reflecting the nation's determination to honor the sacrifices of those like Dennis who gave their lives in the fight for peace.
"Dennis Brown’s passing stands as a testament to the courage, resilience, and dedication of Canada’s military personnel, whose efforts in Afghanistan were pivotal in the ongoing pursuit of a safer world."~ Prime Minister Steven Harper.
The repatriation ceremony of Dennis took place on March 6, 2009, at CFB Trenton.
Dignitaries, including Defence Minister Peter MacKay, General Walt Natynczyk and since disgraced Col. Russell Williams were present at the ceremony.
After the ceremony, his body traveled along the "Highway of Heroes" from Trenton to Toronto, stopping at the coroners office, where 1000's of people, Regional Police Forces, OPP, RCMP, Fire Fighters with trucks,EMS, and Purolator (who Dennis proud worked for in the past), lined the overpasses to pay their respects as part of a tradition honoring fallen Canadian soldiers.
The procession symbolized Canada's collective mourning and respect for the sacrifices of its military personnel.
Dennis was a man full of life and laughter, someone who left a lasting impression on everyone he met. Fun-loving and loyal beyond words, he balanced a firm but fair demeanor with an incredible sense of humor, even gaining the respect of the prisoners he managed by treating them fairly and respectfully.
His wit and sarcasm made waves, but was respected among friends and family, and he was unwavering in standing up for what he believed was right.
Dennis loved music, often turning up the volume and dancing around the house, especially with the kids in the living room. Those family moments of pure silliness were some of his happiest.
He also had a deep love for adventures—whether it was taking the family on trips to Disney or Universal, going camping, hiking, or playing ice hockey with the kids in his homemade backyard rink. His competitive side came out on the rink, but always in good fun.
When he’d had a few drinks, Dennis’s mischievous side would come out—he had a habit of biting people after a few too many!
One memorable drunken time he threatened to “beat the hell out of” his "unofficial" son and friend, Ryan Emilson, who tried to stop him from getting into a fight. In typical Dennis fashion, he warned Ryan that if he tried to stop him, he’d beat him "until the ambulance came," though everyone knew he’d never really follow through on the threat.
His antics at military weddings were legendary—once or a few times :), after having too much to drink, he threw up while in the sword party just as the bride walked by, blaming the bruschetta bread and missing the dinner.
Dennis and Mishelle actually got a lifetime ban, on Remembrance Day 2005, from the Branch 24 Legion after Dennis had a physical altercation with a loud mouthed Engineer from an out of town Regiment.
Dennis was a steadfast friend, especially to Dan Creamer, Steve Ward, Todd Scotney, Mike Avila, Keith Shanon, Brian Davidson, Matt Houtby, Dan Carter, Matt Harris, Jeremy Gamble,Julie Davidson, Emily Ireland, Ryan Emilson, and so many more, with whom he shared countless memories and laughter.
His heart was always open to those he cared about, like, Ryan Martenson, who tragically took his own life, years after Dennis's passing. Dennis would have carried the weight of that loss, as a painful reminder of the harsh realities of war. In all likelihood they have found each other on the other side and enjoy lively debates.
But more than anything, Dennis loved being a dad. He would do absolutely anything to see his kids smile. Whether it was playing on the floor, building a backyard hockey rink, watching movies, playing Legos, pranks, or just cuddling up together, those moments were the highlight of his life. His children were his pride and joy, and he made sure they always knew how much he loved them.
As a husband, Dennis was everything Mishelle could have ever wanted. He was endlessly supportive and always made sure she felt special, sending her love notes every day and carving out time just for the two of them. They had an unbreakable bond, and Dennis made sure to show his love in little ways—whether through grand gestures or simple, heartfelt moments.
Dennis was the kind of man who left a legacy of love, loyalty, and laughter. He lived life to the fullest, filling every room with his energy and every heart with joy. To know Dennis was to know someone who was fiercely loyal, incredibly fun, and completely devoted to his family and friends. His memory lives on in those who knew and loved him, a testament to the remarkable man he was.