Staff writer

OWENSVILLE-The body of Lance Cpl. James E. Brown, killed in Iraq on Nov. 2, is scheduled to arrive at Louisville International-Standiford Field Airport at about 7:30 p.m. CST today and will be escorted back to Gibson County, where funeral services have been scheduled for Thursday.

Brown, 20, of Owensville, was shot in the neck by small arms fire and died instantly while patrolling in the Al Anbar province in western Iraq. The Gibson County Marine had been deployed to Iraq with the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, based out of Camp Lejeune, in Jacksonville, N.C.

Gibson County Sheriff Allen Harmon and Chief Deputy George Ballard will travel to Louisville to escort Brown's body back home this evening. The casket is scheduled to arrive at the airport at 7:31 p.m. CST. USMC Staff Sgt. Tim Kosky said there will be plane side services when Brown's casket arrives in Louisville.

Funeral services for Lance Cpl. Brown will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Gibson Southern High School gymnasium, according to Holder's Funeral Home, which in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday at First General Baptist Church, in Owensville. He will be buried in Saulmon Cemetery, in Poseyville.

According to a press release from South Gibson Supt. Stacey Humbaugh, all SGSC students will be dismissed from school early on Thursday to make accommodations for the funeral. Gibson Southern High School students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. and the three South Gibson community schools will dismiss at 12:50 p.m.

Brown and his fianceé, Jamie Coleman, were planning to be married in February 2007, when Brown was expected to return home from Iraq, with her grandfather, The Rev. Bob Douglas performing the wedding services. Instead, Douglas will be officiating over Brown's funeral service.

Kenny Dewig, a long-time family friend, said his son, Darin Dewig - serving in the U.S. Army and presently deployed in Iraq - will probably not be able to come home for Brown's funeral.

His son was saddened by his friend's death, Kenny Dewig said, but is having to force himself to cope with the loss.

Some of his son's commanding officers knew Darin Dewig had lost a friend, and pulled him aside to give him words of encouragement and told him to steady himself, he added.

&#8220These military guys are tough," Kenny Dewig said. &#8220They have to be."

A complete obituary for Lance Cpl. Brown can be found on page A3.