Local sky soldier killed in action
2003 OHS graduate and paratrooper
Joshua Brennan dies after Taliban
ambush in Afghanistan
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Sunday, October 28, 2007 3:07 AM PDT
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| Sgt. Joshua Brennan, shown in this photo provided by his family, was killed in action in Afghanistan Friday. Brennan, 22, graduated from Ontario HIgh School in 2003. He enlisted in the U.S. Army soon after graduation and became a paratrooper with the renowned 173rd Airborne Infantry Brigade. |
Ontario - A 2003 Ontario High School graduate and U.S. Army paratrooper was killed in action in Afghanistan this week according to the Department of Defense.
Sgt. Joshua C. Brennan, 22, Ontario, died in Asadabad, Afghanistan Friday. Also reported killed in action Thursday was Spc. Hugo V. Mendoza, 29, Glendale Ariz.
According to the Department of Defense, both Brennan and Mendoza died of wounds sustained during combat operations in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.
Mendoza and Brennan were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Brennan is the son of Janice Gates, Ontario and Michael Brennan, McFarland, Wis.
Brennan, who was featured in two articles in the Argus Observer in May and earlier this month, was shot in the chest during a Taliban ambush.
According to Brennan’s uncle, John Brennan, Milwaukee, Wis., Taliban fighters made an attempt to drag his body away after he was shot. An Airborne medic then tossed hand grenades at the Taliban to keep them away from Brennan before he too was shot down.
Brennan was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Brennan was promoted to sergeant after his first tour and received a Bronze Star. According to the Associated Press, Joshua Brennan was shot in the leg in August but returned to duty.
“He was a wonderful kid. He grew up quickly. He wanted to be a police officer. He grew up in Ontario and used to come here (Wisconsin) for the summers,” John Brennan said late Friday.
Brennan’s enlistment in the Army was slated to end last month but he was set to serve another year under the Army’s stop-loss procedure the AP reported.
Friday his uncle said Joshua Brennan’s family was struggling to come to terms with the news.
“I think everyone is in disbelief. You couldn’t believe it,” John Brennan said. “It will be a hard week.”
John Brennan said, though, that his nephew was proud to be serving his country with the famed 173rd Airborne Infantry Brigade.
“He believed in what he was doing. He was a tough kid. He is a fine soldier, one to be dang proud of,” John Brennan said.
Joshua Brennan talked about his service in a May 2, Argus Observer article.
“I’m actually going to end up doing at least a year longer than what I enlisted for. But somebody has to do it. I believe we went into Afghanistan for the right reasons. The mission isn’t complete yet, so we have more to do,” he said in the May 2 article.
In the May 2 article Brennan said he was glad he enlisted in the U.S. Army.
“If I hadn’t (enlisted), I would always have regretted not doing it. I came in basically with the mindset that I wanted to do my part and serve, and I have, and I will again,” he said.
His uncle said the family would rely on their faith and the memory of Joshua to move through the pain of the loss.
“We have a lot of faith and that will keep us strong. We know he is in a better place. He’s our hero,” John Brennan said. “We were lucky enough to have him for 22 years. He was a focused individual and he was dedicated to the mission in front of him. He was such a good kid.”
Argus Observer Editor Pat Caldwell also contributed to this report.
