Unbelievable

Below is a note that my Uncle Terry wrote and sent to our family just this morning. As many of you know my cousin Josh was killed in Afghanistan on Oct. 26, 2007. Last year my cousin Joseph joined the Army and entered the same unit that Josh was in. Then right before Christmas he was sent to Afghanistan. Read the story below and see what happened just this past Sunday. It's really unbelievable!

Family and Friends,

I want to share a bit of what may seem a unbelievable story with you. The story starts with our "Hero Sgt. Joshua C. Brennan". Josh served with the Army 173rd Airborne. 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 anniversary of Josh's death) and he was off to Vincenza, Italy where the 173rd is based out of. Joseph joined up with the same platoon 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 and in the Korengal Valley where Josh was ambushed and killed. Joseph arrived just before Christmas. He has been on several missions since his arrival to Camp Joyce. This past weekend the "Brennan's celebrated Christmas at a hotel in Chicago. Saturday night we had a toast to Josh's memory. About that same time, 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.

Gods Blessing to you all,
Terry and Laurie Brennan

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