A Tale of Two Heroes

Here’s an incredible story of modern war, an amazing series of coincidences; UNLESS – like me – you don’t believe in coincidences.

PVT BRENNON ON PATROL THAT CAPTURES HVT RESPONSIBLE FOR MASTERMINING COUSIN’S DEATH

SGT Joshua Brennan, B Co 2-503, 173rd Airborne Brigade, KIA 26 Oct 07

Josh Brennan was critically wounded on 25 October 2007 in a Taliban ambush on patrol with his platoon in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. During the ambush the Taliban attempted to drag Josh away. SPC Hugo “Doc” Mendoza gave his life, and two others were severely wounded attempting to save Josh from the enemy. His platoon continued to fight the enemy and were successful in getting Josh back. One of those men has been nominated for the Medal of Honor for his actions that day.

SGT Josh Brennan on the day of his last mission: Operation Rock Avalanche

Inspired by his cousin’s footsteps, Joseph Brennan enlisted in the US Army, went Airborne (that’s Joe Brennan being pinned with his cousin’s wings at Fort Benning), and shipped out to Vicenza, Italy to join the same outfit his cousin had served in.

Two years to the day after Josh was killed in action, Private Joseph Brennan entered the same platoon that Josh had served in and met several of Josh’s friends. Their outfit – 2d Battalion of the 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment – deployed to Afghanistan just before Christmas, 2009. Joseph’s platoon was sent to Camp Joyce, in Kunar province where his cousin Josh was ambushed and killed.

Joseph has already been out on several missions since Christmas. Then his family got the word; his platoon CAPTURED THE GUY WHO PLANNED THE AMBUSH THAT KILLED JOSH BRENNAN AND HUGO MENDOZA.

The entire incredible story is over at tankerbabelc’s blog FROM COW PASTURES TO KOSOVO.

Some of the facts:

* SGT Brennan was wounded in combat on 25 October 2007 and died of his wounds the next day, 26 October 2007.

* PVT Brennan left the US for his overseas duty station in Vicenza, Italy on 26 October 2009 (the second anniversary of his cousin’s death)

* PVT Brennan was assigned to the same unit his cousin SGT Brennan had served in: B Company, 2nd Battalion of the 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

* PVT Brennan’s platoon went on patrol that captured the High Value Target who masterminded the ambush that killed his cousin SGT Joshua Brennan.

PVT Joseph Brennan, graduating from Airborne school and being pinned with his cousin Josh's wings

Four Taliban were captured that day in this unbelievable chain of events, including the HVT known to have planned the ambush where Josh Brennan and Doc Mendoza were killed. His family got the word immediately afterward, from Joe Brennan himself.

173D Airborne Brigade - "Sky Soldiers"

Originally published at STORMBRINGER.