Cecil was born on February 24, 1924 at Millstone (Letcher County, Kentucky) to Maylon and Pollie Ann Craft Brown. He was the youngest of seven children, Archie, Ben, Mae, Astor, Pricey and Elizabeth. Cecil's mother died when he was two years old and the children were sent to stay with various Craft relatives. Cecil and the twins, Pricey and Elizabeth, went to their grandparents, Archie and Pricey Adkins Craft, where they remained for three years.

It was at this time Cecil became acquainted with his great grandparents, Enoch Arden (Chunk) and Pollie Ann Caudill Craft. Since his mother Pollie Ann was the first grandchild and her youngest child was now living nearby, they turned their attention to him. A close relationship evolved between them that lasted as long as they lived. Grandpa Chunk related many tales of his experiences during his service in the 13th Kentucky where he served as a cook for his unit under Colonel Ben Caudill, who later became his brother in law, Chunk married Ben's sister, Pollie Ann Caudill. He told of having been shaved only once in his life and that was when he was taken prisoner and they did the dirty deed. When General John Hunt Morgan was murdered in Greenville, Tennessee, Chunk said he was sleeping in the garden. He was one of the soldiers that accompanied the body to Abingdon, Virginia where he remained until the General was buried. Under a flag of truce, Morgan's body was sent by rail to Abingdon, VA where it was laid out at the residence of Judge Campbell. The funeral took place at 4:00 pm Tuesday, September 6, 1864 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The procession, "the largest and most imposing there has even been in southwest Virginia", formed on Glade Spring Road for burial in the Sinking Spring Cemetery. "A week later the body was removed from Sunken Springs Cemetery and carried to Richmond, where it lay in state in the Confederate capitol." Grandpa Chunk kept a diary during his service and allowed Cecil to read it many times. It can no longer be located and most of the family thinks it was destroyed when the house burned. He also had the rifle that he carried during the war. Several years ago Cecil attempted to locate the rifle, but all that remained was the barrel. Cecil's father married Susie McCray in 1929 and came for his children, they moved to the head of Masters Branch overlooking McRoberts. Here his family farmed, kept milk cows, a pair of mules, hogs, chickens, raised sugar cane and made molasses. They peddled their wares in the town of McRoberts. Cecil had the chore of delivering milk and picking up the empty jars. His mom made him a coat and two bags from his Uncle Richard Yont's old overalls. The coat had pockets that the milk jars fit into and so did the bags. He could carry 12 jars of milk and replace with the empty ones he collected. He said that when he walked he rattled. All the people called him, "The Little Milk Boy."

He enlisted in the U.S. Army the day he turned eighteen and was assigned to the 37th Quarter Master Corps Dog Platoon, which later was attached to the 87th Regiment, 10th Mountain Division. He served as a scout along with his dog, Buddie. Cecil served in the European Theater of Operations in Italy. He and his dog Buddie were wounded in action February 26, 1945 in Buio, Italy, and he was awarded The Purple Heart.

After the war was over and he was discharged he returned to Letcher County, Kentucky. He was unable to find employment so he reenlisted in the Army and was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas. Here he met and married Minnie Gustin and they were the parents of three children, Sheila, Cecil Ray and Bert. After leaving the Army he worked at Fort Riley for Civil Service as Director of Facilities Engineering for 30 years before retiring. He and his family lived in Milford, Kansas for 44 years where he served as mayor and councilman. Several years after the death of his wife he married Nancy Clark Baker of Wise, Virginia. They moved to Longford, KS in 1990 and he served on the City Council until shortly before his death. Here he built a woodworking shop and began buying and restoring old houses. He completed 5 houses, a schoolhouse and tore down 3 houses beyond repair. He spent many happy hours in his shop where he could be heard all around town singing as he worked. Cecil always had time for his family, friends and his community. One of his neighbors stated, " Cecil touched the lives of everyone he met." He passed into eternal rest on April 7, 2005. We were honored to have had this man in our camp and let us offer a silent salute to our fallen compatriot, Cecil Brown!