of Canal and instead of ownership. Brown also emphasized that the United States Military must had all the access to the Canal, both in wartime and in peace time and its security must be continually assured. Brown sees that the capability to defend the Panama Canal in order not to fall into the wrong hand was depend on the cooperation between the United States and Panama. General Brown remained a year within Carter administration, from January 20, 1977, to June 20, 1978. During his last tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Brown continued to advise and emphasize to Carter Administration about the importance of the United States Military arsenal modernization and buildup of its deterrence against the potential threat, even-though Carter administration stressed more on Pentagon Budget reduction. Many of his colleagues on the Department of Defense and the Joint Staff praised Brown leadership during his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, including former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld who praised Brown as one of the most brilliant and smartest man he ever worked with. Retirement Brown was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early 1978. Although Brown was still able to carry out his duties as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, his cancer caused his health to deteriorate, forcing him to take early retirement on 21 June 1978, twelve days before he was due to retire as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brown was replaced by Air Force Chief of Staff General David C. Jones, who assumed the position on June 21, 1978. Although he was ill, Brown remained involved in discussions on a number of military matters and appeared on a Public Policy Forum TV program in 1978 to discuss the roles of the Joint Chiefs of Staff along with a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brown died at the Malcolm Grow Air Force Hospital at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, on 5 December 1978, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Section 21. Dates of rank Source: Awards and decorations Distinguished Service Cross citation Brown, George S. Major, U.S. Army Air Forces Headquarters, 93d Bombardment Wing (H), Ninth Air Force (Attached) Date of Action: August 1, 1943 Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major