This Memorial Day, a Pinellas County veteran is reflecting on his life of service and loss.

George Brown Jr. shared his stories with Bay News 9, and through a special veterans portraits project at the Armed Forces Museum in Largo.

Inside Brown’s St. Petersburg home is a room full of memories: photos and military memorabilia line the walls and shelves, a heavy photo album holds newspaper clippings and pictures of his more than 30 years of military service.

The retired Army colonel reflects on his career, not just on Memorial Day, but every day.

"I was enlisted in 1947," Brown said. "I actually wanted to go in to the Tuskegee Airmen. I wanted to enlist in the Air Force, but they wouldn't take any African Americans at the time in 1947, they had a quota."

That didn't hold Brown, 85, back from serving his country.  First stationed in Japan with an anti-aircraft unit, he then re-enlisted and went to Ranger school, and trained with special forces.

Brown has never forgotten the friends he made and lost in the Vietnam war.

Brown also trained cadets. Some of which he said credit him for their survival.  He remembers one such conversation, years ago.

“He said, ‘Major Brown you don't remember me.  I was an ROTC cadet at Fort Bragg, and you pointed out specific incidents if I ran in to at Vietnam’…  He said, ‘it saved my life.’  It was one of the most proudest moments of my life," said Brown.

Recently the husband and grandfather experienced another proud moment, at the Armed Forces museum.  Brown was one of 15 Pinellas County veterans photographed in their own uniform from the past, for a special project.

Seeing the finished portrait for the first time, Brown didn't just see his face.

"Years of hard training and a whole lot of stuff.  Troops that I've lost, troops that I saved and everything,” said Brown. 

He said he'll take his copy of the portrait home, and add it to his room.

Brown hopes when others see the portraits, they remember, too.

Two of the veterans featured in portraits project have since passed away.  If you'd like to see the portraits, you can visit the armed forces museum in largo, where they're now all on display.