SPC BRENDAN P. NEENAN

(photos courtesy Aileen Horan)

Columbarium niche marker for the cremains of Spc Brendan P. Neenan at Section 8-MM Row 20, Site 6 in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

Enterprise mourns a fallen hero
By Michelle Mann
Published: June 10, 2010

Courtesy Photo

											Hugh Neenan, left, 
											presents his son Brendan the 
											airborne wings worn by Brendan’s 
											grandfather. The third-generation 
											airborne paratrooper died Monday at 
											Jelwar, Afghanistan, of wounds 
											sustained when insurgents attacked 
											his unit using an improvised 
											explosive device

“The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom,” read the news release from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.
The soldier was Spc. Brendan P. Neenan, 21, of Enterprise, who died June 7 at Jelawar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.
The third-generation Army paratrooper was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan. The soldiers were on a 3 a.m. foot patrol of the area when the IED exploded, Brandon’s father Hugh Neenan said Wednesday.
Funeral arrangements will be handled through Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory and a memorial service will be held at St. John Catholic Church in Enterprise. Final arrangements are pending the Army’s final processing.
Neenan and his wife, Lesa, opened their Enterprise home Wednesday to a flood of family and friends wanting to offer condolences as word of their son’s death spread. Their son had been back in Afghanistan for exactly two weeks after a 15-day visit home to Enterprise. He was one week from coming off the combat front line, his father said.
“He had such a short life, but it was so full,” said Mrs. Neenan, who has raised the three Neenan children since their mother died from breast cancer in 1997. “She is his other-mother,” said Hugh Neenan. “She’s raised these kids.”
Katie,17, and Tim, 24, are Neenan’s surviving siblings. A step-brother, Jeremy Jackson and his fiancé were killed four years ago by a drunk driver. As the family reflected on their memories of their son and brother Wednesday morning they fondly shared their descriptions of the 21-year-old as selfless, funny, fantastic dancer, awesome, tender, protective of his little sister.

“He was the the middle child, my baby boy, the joy of my life,” his father said. “He was pretty much me.” Added his other-mother, “He always wanted to be just like his dad.” Mike Hartwick and Mikey Doran said they are tied for the title of Neenan’s best friend. “I first met the guy in high school,” Doran said. “One of the very first things we talked about, we had an argument over Batman,” he said. “Honestly, our friendship kind of blossomed from there.” The duo worked together at Lowes. “We both had a blast working together,” Doran said. “He actually made working pretty fun.”
“We both shared a very close interest in movies,” Doran said, adding that Neenan’s humor was his trademark. “The last week and a half Neenan was home, we hung out with all of them every night,” Doran said. “It wasn’t just me, he cared for everyone so much.”
“The one thing I’ll remember about him more than anything was how we would be hanging out with some of our friends and we would just play jokes right off each other, we could’ve been ‘Whose Line is it Anyway’s’ stand-ins together,” Doran said. “He was truly a one-of-a -kind person, by far the greatest person I knew.”
“He died for his country, and I can guarantee you the guy had no regrets,” Doran said. “He tried doing what was right every chance he got.”
Hartwick said he knew from the start that he and Neenan were going to be life-long friends. “He was like a brother,” he said. “Neenan and I became inseparable. We were the dynamic duo, we did everything together: Eating, playing airsoft, playing pranks on people, romping through the woods, going to pawn shops and guns hops, playing video games and working on cars.”
“I felt proud to be around him, I was in a unique position because I got to watch him grow up, and I was a part of it,” Hartwick said. “And I felt responsible. it was like I was appointed his mentor, in my mind of course.”
“Man, there are just so many memories,” Hartwick said. “I always admired how sincere he was in everything he did. He had a really unique since of humor, courtesy of yours truly.”
“He was so caring,” Hartwick said. “And that’s what I’m going to miss the most: His friendship. He was the truest, most sincere, loving, caring kid anyone could ask for,” he said. “And I regret that I’ll never get to tell him how much he meant to me.”
“If I could tell him anything, I’d say: ’Words will never express how much I love you,’ I can still hear your voice and see your face even now, and though you’re not here, I know our friendship will be the same as it has always been,” Hartwick said. “Brendan, I will never forget you and the wonderful friendship we shared. Rest easy, I love you.”
Neenan’s Internet Facebook page was flooded with messages as friends learned of his untimely death. “I wish you an easy journey to the other side,” wrote one. “We all give up a little something to be in the Army,” wrote another. “Some of us more than others.”

BRENDAN PATRICK NEENAN

Brendan Patrick Neenan Brendan Patrick Neenan, beloved son of Hugh, Carol, and Lesa Neenan was killed in action on June 7, 2010, while proudly serving his country in Afghanistan as a United States paratrooper. He died a hero at the age of 21. Brendan's services with military honors will be held at St. John Catholic Church in Enterprise with Father Gregory Okorobia officiating and Searcy Funeral Home directing. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon followed by a mass at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Brendan's remains will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Brendan joins his mother, Carol Elizabeth Neenan, his grandfather, Timothy F. Neenan, and his stepbrother, Jeremy Jackson. Carrying on Brendan's memory are his brother, Timothy; his sister, Katie; grandparents, Miggs Nee-nan, Charles Notter, Joyce Notter, and Betty Coon, a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, and his dog, Steak. Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory, (334) 393-2273, is in charge of arrangements.

Enterprise mourns a fallen hero By Michelle Mann Published: June 10, 2010

Enterprise mourns a fallen hero
By Michelle Mann
Published: June 10, 2010