Sharon was born November 12th, 1955 to Ora and Jewel Brown of Wilmington, IL. Her father died in 1965 and she was raised by her mother and older siblings. She graduated from Wilmington High School in 1973. Although she wanted to join the Marine Corps at that time, her mother was concerned about women in the military, especially within the Marine Corps. Shortly after her mother's death in May of 1974, Sharon joined the Marine Corps Delayed Entry Program in August of 1974, reporting for recruit training at Parris Island, SC. 

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Duty stations included: Naval Air Station, Memphis TN; Drill Instructor Duty at Parris Island, SC; 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan; Marine Recruiting Office, Chicago, IL; 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Cherry Point, NC; Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow, CA.

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Sharon became a single parent in 1990 and raised three children, Christina, Stephanie, and Glen. Sharon retired on February 29th, 1996, at the rank of Master Sergeant.