1972-1977

Brackeen Appointed 63lst FA Co1n1nander

JACKSON--Maj. Gen. Cohen Robertson, the Adjutant General. today announced the appointment of Lt. Col. Charlie D. Brackeen of Union as Commander of the Mississippi National Guard's 631 st Field Artillery Brigade at Grenada. Brackeen. dean ofsrndents at East Central .Junior College. .succeeds Col. Marion S. Branch of Winona : now assigned to state headquarters of the Mississippi National Guard. A veteran of more than 30 years militar~· service. Brackeen enlisted in the Mississippi National Guard in Mav. 1949. at Decatur while a student at East Central. He went on active dut~· with the unit during the Korean Conflict and returned to the Guard after his discharge from active duty. He was appointed a Second Lieutenant in May. 1956. in Headquarters Battery. 932nd Field Artillery Battalion. at Starkville and a few months later returned to Service Battery at Decatur. He later served as commander of th~ Decatur unit for eight years . His first association with the 631 st in Grenada began in February. 1968. wi'th assignment as logistics officer. He served as the unit's training officer prior to appointment in Februarv. I973. as executive officer of the 4th Battalion. I 14th Fi~d Artillery. headquarters at Newton.: Brackeen served as battalion commander of the 4th Battalion.

•. "'=" !'":

I 14th from August. I973. until he returned to Grenada earlier this .year as Brigade Executive Officer. He recently assumed command of the Brigade. which has two subordinate units. the First Batta– lion. I 14th Field Artillery. head– quartered in Greenwood. and the Fourth Battalion at Newton. Brackeen was graduate from Hickory High School and the University of Mississippi. where he was an outstanding basketball player. He served for seven years as basketball coach at East Central and was director of admissions prior to appointment to his present position as dean of students. The new commander and his wife, the former Charlotte Wells of Union. have two sons. Morgan and Charlie.

....