LOWELL — Richard Brown can remember watching all those World War II movies with his father five decades ago.

“‘Who are those guys wearing khaki uniforms?'” he recalls asking his father, Arthur. “‘What do they do?'”

His interest in the U.S. Navy had sprouted.

A few years later, as a 13-year-old, Brown attended his brother’s Naval Academy induction ceremony.

“‘I think I want to do this,'” he remembers saying.

His father, who was in the U.S. Navy Reserve, never let him forget he said that. Arthur helped guide Richard into the Navy, where he has flourished for 32 years.

Richard Brown’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit (five awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (five awards) and Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).

But his top honor came recently, just in time for Christmas.

Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced that Brown, 54, a rear admiral, had been nominated for vice admiral — the second highest rank in the Navy. Vice admiral is the three-star commissioned Naval officer rank.

“Not bad for a little kid from the Immaculate Conception,” Arthur Brown said in the family’s Fairmount Street home in Lowell last week.

As rear admiral, Richard Brown has been in Millington, Tenn., serving as commander of Navy Personnel Command, and deputy chief of Naval Personnel.

Now, he is set for assignment in San Diego, Calif., as commander of Naval Surface Forces, and commander of Naval Surface Force Pacific Fleet. It will be his 21st location move for the Navy.

“I am humbled, yet excited about getting to go out there and do the job,” Richard Brown said last week.

“It’s a great honor,” he added. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

A 1985 graduate of the Naval Academy, Richard Brown has gone on numerous sea tours, including as: navigator and damage control assistant on the USS Charles F. Adams; operations officer on the USS O’Bannon; commanding officer on the USS The Sullivans; and commanding officer on the USS Gettysburg.

One of the more unique tours he was on brought him to the Indian Ocean and Red Sea in 2009 — when Somalia piracy was out of control. He helped lead a crew that captured dozens of pirates.

“It was a pretty interesting tour,” he said.

He has also been leading an investigation into August’s fatal collision between the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain and a Liberian chemical tanker. Ten sailors died. The destroyer was navigating a crowded shipping lane in the Strait of Malacca.

As vice admiral, Richard Brown will be manning, training and equipping ships in the Pacific Fleet. He will also be involved in vetting policy for ships in both the Pacific and Atlantic.

Every year he commanded a Navy ship, his crew earned the Battle Efficiency Award. In 2009, Gettysburg also earned the Arizona Memorial Trophy.

“It’s service to your ship, to the men and women you serve with and lead,” he said. “It’s why I did it, and continue to do it.”

The Brown tradition of serving in the Navy will live on for a long, long time. Three of Arthur’s sons and three grandsons graduated from the Naval Academy. His other son graduated from Maine Maritime Academy.

It all started with Arthur joining the military in 1954. He volunteered for the U.S. Army draft.

When Arthur got out, he married Patricia, who then “made me” go to college, he said. He attended Northeastern University thanks to the GI Bill.

After graduating, he became a special agent for the Treasury Department, followed by criminal investigator for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office. He was also a Navy Reserve officer for three decades.

“I was on training duty at the base (Little Creek, Va.) in the 60s, and the kids all came,” Arthur recalled. “They liked what they saw.

“The oldest decided he’d try it out, the next guy said, ‘I think I’ll try it,’ and the next guy said the same,” he added. “They all liked it very much.”

Richard’s son Robert graduated from the Naval Academy this year. He has the rank of ensign.

Richard’s older brother, Michael, was rear admiral before retiring. Michael’s son Ryan is a lieutenant commander.

Richard’s other brother Kevin is a lieutenant commander. Kevin’s son Nathan is a lieutenant junior grade.

“We love the Navy,” Patricia said last week in her Lowell home, full of Navy memorable and photos across their living room. Their dinner table has placemats with ships.

“Go Navy!” she added. Patricia Brown worked at GE before teaching at Lowell High School.

Patricia and Arthur, both 83, have been married for 61 years.

The fourth Brown brother, Stephen, graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1982. The lone sister, Jennifer, teaches at Greater Lowell Technical High School.

The four Brown boys graduated from the Immaculate Conception Grammar School and St. John’s Prep.

“We’re proud of the whole family,” Arthur said. “They’re all a bunch of good kids. They’ve spent their life serving their country.”

Follow Rick Sobey on Twitter @rsobeyLSun.