Meet Josh - Madison, WI PD's Newest K-9 Recruit - Definitely More To This Story

SGT Joshua Brennan was a well respected NCO in the Army.  He served with the 173rd, 2-503 based in Vicenza, Italy.  Josh was awarded NCO of the year by the Vietnam era Bravo Bulls of the 2-503.  He earned many medals of valor, purple hearts and other awards during his service in the Army.  He was a great son, brother, leader, Soldier and friend.  Josh had many plans for his life after the Army.  One of those plans was to serve alongside his father, Mike Brennan, on the Madison, Wisconsin police department.  Sadly Josh died 26 October 2007 of wounds sustained during an ambush in eastern Afghanistan on 25 October 2007. 

Mike Brennan, Josh's father, has been a member of the police department since leaving the Army himself.  When news came of Josh's death in Afghanistan the department rallied around Mike and his family. To this day they continue to remember Josh, to support Mike and the Brennan family and to participate in various events to remember and honor fallen military personnel. 

Yesterday Mike Brennan sent me an email with the photos below and this text:

"Yes this is the newest mpd (Madison Police Department) k-9 and he was named after Josh. Josh always wanted to work with me on the PD and now he will have a chance.  The handler is in South Carolina picking him up and will be back in March after training. He was born in Dec of 2008 and she says he is full of energy"

I'm not going to lie.  I couldn't stop the tears.  Mike has become a very dear and special friend.  We talk about Josh often and have through the past two years.  I know how much Mike thinks about the "what if".  What if Josh hadn't been killed in Afghanistan?  What would it be like to have him on the force with me?  Mike Brennan has every reason to be bitter and angry but he's not.  He misses Josh EVERY DAY but he draws on his faith, family and friends when he needs a little extra strength.

Mike invited me on a ride along one night when I was visiting in Madison.  I actually witnessed him making an arrest.  I won't go into the details but I was truly in awe of how he handled the situation.  There was a young child at the home.  One of the first things Mike did was ask another family member to remove the child from the room.  He didn't want the child to see him as he handcuffed the mother.  He didn't have to do that but that is an example of the kind of man Mike is.  He was definitely firm and in control of the situation at all times but always cognizant of the young child.  At one point the mother and a friend of hers attempted to escalate the situation with yelling.  Mike calmly, but firmly, talked them down in short order always reminding them that the child should not be traumatized by the situation.  Before we took the mother out to the squad car Mike gave her the opportunity to talk with her child for a few moments.  The he spoke with the young child and assured him everything would be OK.

I am so grateful to the Madison Police Department for naming their newest K-9 after Josh.  I have no doubts Mike is going to need a little training, too.  I fear Josh could weigh 500 lbs if Mike is allowed to give him treats.  I look forward to the day when I get to meet Josh.  He's quite a handsome young man isn't he?

Links to stories about SGT Brennan:

Remembering SGT Josh Brennan - link has a very moving video

SGT Brennan's mom's facebook page

SGT Josh Brennan's family invited to the White House by President Bush

PVT Brennan on Patrol That Captures HVT Responsible for Mastermining Cousin's Death

I've written about SGT Josh Brennan (KIA 26 Oct 2007) on several occassions.  One of those can be found here.  On 4 Oct 2009 I wrote about SGT Josh Brennan's cousin, PVT Joseph Brennan, graduating from Airborne school and being pinned with Josh's wings.

This past Sunday I received a call from Mike Brennan, Josh's dad.  He began relating the story below.  When he got to the part about 4 Taliban being captured but before he got to the details of exactly who was captured the hair stood up on my arms and I said, "DO NOT tell me....." over and over as Mike continued to talk.  I heard what he said but had to ask him to say it again. 

PVT Joseph Brennan's father sent the following to me in an email.  I have his permission to share and have also checked to assure there is no OPSEC violation within.

I want to share a bit of what may seem an unbelievable story with you. The story starts with our "Hero Sgt. Joshua C. Brennan". Josh served with the Army 173rd Airborne, 2-503. Josh was killed in action on Oct. 26th, 2007. Three days prior to Josh's death we had a Marine recruiter in our home. Joseph wanted to serve in the military and was looking at the Marines. Josh's death did not change Joseph's mind about serving his country.

Approximately one year later Joseph and I, at the last minute, went to Italy along with other members of the family to have a HUGE party for the guys from Josh's unit. Joseph was 3 weeks from going to basic training with the Marines. While talking to Josh's friends, they convinced him he should go into the Army instead. Joseph told me later that he wanted to follow in Josh's footsteps and go to Airborne school. Well, he went into the Army in May of 2009 and graduated from Airborne school in early October.

We said our goodbyes to Joseph on Oct. 26 (the 2nd anniversary of Josh's death) and he was off to Vincenza, Italy where the 173rd is based. Joseph joined up with the same platoon that Josh served in and met several of Josh's friends in the platoon. We then learned Joseph would be deployed to Afghanistan. Out of about a 1000 soldiers Joseph's platoon (about 30 to 40 soldiers) and another platoon were chosen to go to Camp Joyce. Camp Joyce is in the Kunar province where Josh was ambushed and killed. Joseph arrived just before Christmas.

Joseph has been on several missions since his arrival to Camp Joyce. This past weekend the Brennan family celebrated Christmas at a hotel in Chicago. Saturday night we had a toast to Josh's memory. About that same time, we later found out, Joseph was on another mission. It would of been early Sunday morning Afghan time. Joseph called me on Sunday at about 11:00 am as we were driving home from Chicago. We talked a little and Joseph said "Dad tell Uncle Mike we got him!" I didn't understand "Got who", I said. "We captured the guy who planned the ambush attack that killed Josh and Hugo Mendoza." "What ?????", I could not believe what I was hearing. "Be sure you tell Uncle Mike, we got the guy", he repeated. I was speechless.

I immediately called Mike and told him the news. He couldn't believe his ears. What is the possibility that Joseph would be taking part in a mission that captured the guy who planned the ambush on that day that took Josh and Hugo's lives and on the same day we were having our family party? Could this be true? Mike, after hearing this story, has verified it through a very reliable military source. I am still shaking my head as to the chain of events that led to the capture of this "High value target". Oh, by the way, this guy captured is not one that will be "Captured and released." we have been told. We are so proud of all our men and women serving our country and we are so Proud of Joseph and his participation in capturing this murderer. The whole platoon did a great job. God's finger prints are all over this story. Please pray for our troops. I just had to share.

God's Blessing to you all,
Terry and Laurie Brennan (parents of PVT Joseph Brennan)

“There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from.”

Let's just review some of the facts

• SGT Brennan was wounded in an ambush on 25 Oct 07 and died of his wounds on 26 Oct 07.
• PVT Brennan left the US for his duty station on 26 Oct 09 (on the 2 year anniversary of his cousin's death)
• PVT Brennan was assigned to the same Brigade, Battalion, Company AND Platoon as his cousin had been
• PVT Brennan's platoon was chosen to go on the mission that would end in the capture of the high value target who masterminded the ambush that resulted in SGT Brennan's death.
• At the time the Brennan family was together for their annual Christmas gathering and toasting SGT Brennan's memory, PVT Brennan was on a patrol that captured the mastermind of the ambush that resulted in SGT Brennans' death.

Mike and I are still talking about this unbelievable chain of events.  Four Taliban were captured that day.  One was a high value target known to have been a (the) mastermind in planning the ambush when Josh and SPC Hugo "Doc" Mendoza were killed.  I believe that Josh is definitely looking down on Joseph and is celebrating like crazy in Heaven.

Mike forwarded the email from Terry with this comment:

This is a story that my brother Terry wrote regarding the high value target Josephs unit the 173rd Airborne caught over the weekend. If you never thought that Josh was up there overlooking all of them before you will now. This is just incredible.

Mike Brennan

I believe Mike.  I believe.