Skip to content

Joseph James Brennion

PFC Joseph J. Brennion served with Baker Company, 5th Engineer Battalion.
He was reported missing in action at Iwo Jima on 19 February 1945.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 546513

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains Not Recovered

Pursuit Category

This case is under Active Pursuit by DPAA

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

September 21, 1925
in Boston, MA

Parents

Frederick Ludwig Brennion (d. 1942)
Gertrude (Huerth) Brennion

Education

Quincy High School

Occupation & Employer

Student

Service Life

Entered Service

August 16, 1943
in Boston, MA

Home Of Record

249 South Central Avenue
Wollaston (Quincy), MA

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Gertrude A. Brennion

Military Specialty

Shore Party Man (MOS 729)

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart (Iwo)

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Companies of the Fifth Engineer Battalion were attached to the infantry regiments of the Fifth Marine Division as support troops for the battle of Iwo Jima. If the battle concluded quickly – as planners claimed and all hands hoped – their primary role would be setting up water points and maintaining roads for their Division. PFC Joseph J. Brennion, a shore party man, would be responsible for organizing equipment and supplies on the beach.

Furious opposition met the assault troops on 19 February 1945, and the supporting waves also came under heavy fire. As the LCVP carrying Brennion’s platoon approached shore, it was “disabled” – either by mechanical failure or enemy action – and had to be abandoned. The engineers went over the sides, shedding equipment and swimming for their lives. First Lieutenant Worth W. Bositure claimed he saw Brennion in the water heading for the beach, but lost sight of the young Bostonian.

Exactly what fate befell PFC Brennion is not known; military records simply note “there was no report to the effect that [he] ever reached shore.” He was reported as missing in action, and an official declaration of death was issued on 20 February 1946.

Burial Information or Disposition

None; identifiable remains not recovered.

Memorials

Honolulu Memorial, Courts Of The Missing

Joseph’s cousin, Captain Richard Huerth USMC, was killed in action at Tulagi on 7 August 1942.
His older brother, Sergeant Carl J. Brennion, served with the 13th Marines at Iwo Jima.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Gertrude Brennion.

Location Of Loss

Brennion was last seen in the water offshore of either Red or Green Beach, Iwo Jima.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *