Brian Eugene Morrill was born to Harry Eugene Morrill, a career Air Force officer who would retire as a full colonel, and his wife Madeline Caldwell Morrill. He had two younger brothers, Stephen and Jim. Brian graduated from George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, VA, where he starred on the track team. His senior year, his 880-yard relay team placed third at the Virginia State Indoor Championships. Later that year on the outdoor track, Brian’s mile relay team set the school record, running in 3:28.8 seconds, while he set the school record in the 440-yard dash in 50.4 seconds.
Brian decided to continue his academic and track career at West Point, where he was a member of the Indoor and Outdoor Track teams for all four years. He was in Company E-1 his first two years until joining H-1 for his last two years, when the Corps expanded. His companymates recall Brian as a quiet, serious cadet with the thin, whippet body of the sprinter and short curly hair. He always seemed to have a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. Brian occasionally partook in some fun as cadets are wont to do. One summer he and a companymate took leave to Washington, DC, where his family still lived. One evening they decided to visit the Tombs, a local haunt frequented by college kids, particularly girls and visiting cadets. After several hours of sampling the fare, they walked back through the dark, leafy Georgetown streets looking for Brian’s car. Finally finding it, his key didn’t work to open the door. Saying this was a common occurrence, the two proceeded to break into the car, disturbing the tranquil suburban evening. Settling into the driver’s seat, Brian said quietly, “This isn’t my car!” They quickly got out of the car, relocked it and trudged along the streets until they found his real car.
His track teammates probably knew him best, as he trained all four years with three of his classmates: Larry Lemaster, Ron King, and Bob Foos. Larry, who captained the Track Team his firstie year, recalled Brian as having an awesome athletic ability, but with a strong dedication to the team. He remembered him as fun to be with, having a good sense of humor and a quick warm smile. His yearling year, Brian placed fifth in the 220-yard dash at the Men’s Outdoor Heptagonal Championships, with a time of 21.8 seconds, helping Army win the meet held at West Point’s Shea Stadium. His cow year was probably his most successful year. Teaming with Bob Foos and two others, his mile-relay team was undefeated in dual meets and in beating Navy at their indoor meet, the team set the Army mile-relay record of 3:15.4 seconds, a record which still stands today. That year the mile-relay team would go to Madison Square Garden on Friday nights to run against some of the best teams in the nation, only to return on Saturday to compete in Army’s dual meets. Coach Crowell was initially reluctant to let them participate, thinking the Friday night performances would adversely affect their times the next day. But their hard work and desire finally convinced the coach that it was a worthwhile effort. Bob Foos recalls that Brian’s fastest race was one that wasn’t even timed. After graduation, he and Brian ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Brian arrived in the Hemingway Arena ahead of the bulls, but the organizers let one bull out to chase the participants. Brian was the fastest one to get away!
Brian decided to follow in his father’s footsteps by being commissioned in the Air Force. This subjected him to merciless ribbing by his classmates. His trackmates made him promise when flying over Vietnam to drop his bombs on the Vietcong and not on them as they slogged below through the rice paddies. He took it all with natural good humor. Commissioned an Air Force second lieutenant, Brian went to flight school at Craig AFB in Alabama. After more than a year of basic and advanced flight training, Brian emerged as qualified to fly the Lockheed WC-130 Hercules, the Air Force’s weather reconnaissance plane. He was immediately assigned to the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Anderson AFB in Guam. Over 15 months, he flew 21 combat missions and 70.3 combat hours over Southeast Asia. In early 1972, he returned to McClelland AFB in California, where he was assigned as a WC-130 Aircraft Commander with the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. In June of 1974, Brian decided to resign his commission. He left the Air Force having earned the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Longevity Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.
His brother said that Brian immediately immersed himself in numerous art classes at UC Davis, indulging himself in an area of study not found at West Point or in the Air Force. He lived a happy but private life after his time at West Point and his exemplary military service.
Brian will always be remembered by his classmates as a true friend and by his trackmates as a fierce competitor of the cinder track. God bless, Brian.