Wife recalls trying to save officer killed in mass shooting as ‘hell on earth’
The wife of a man serving his country in the Marine Corps says she’s “hell on earth” because she has to watch her husband’s death from within the pain of losing her own son.
“I just look at him like he’s my child, but even though he’s my husband I could never have her in the same room with him,” Nicole Brown said.
She said her son, Cpl. Dillon Brown, died after a sniper opened fire on two U.S. special operations service members at an outpost in Niger, Niger State Police said.
The ambush, caught on cellphone video, killed four U.S. service members, including two Marines, and wounded seven.
Dillon died Monday at the U.S. Marine base where he served with the 3rd Marine Regiment. He was 25.
His sister, Nicole Brown, said her family plans to fly back to Fort Bragg, N.C., on Tuesday night and fly out of there late Wednesday or early Thursday.
Nicole said her son was killed when he was standing with his fellow Marines during a routine patrol at the outpost.
“My son was one of the finest young men that I ever met… it just doesn’t come down to one person,” she said. “He was just an amazing young man. He loved being a Marine. He loved serving his country. He loved me and he loved his life and I love him.”
Nicole said her son never had any problems with police. She said he was a standout student and graduated valedictorian in his class at the academy in San Antonio, Texas.
“I never thought he would be in the military,” she said. “He was my baby.”
She said she tried to stop the family from flying back to the United States last year but their request was denied because they couldn’t
