Michael Brennan

By Claire Koscinski

SCRANTON- Local veteran Michael Brennan discovered his passion for the National Guard after serving in the Army.

Brennan, 67, Williamsport, is a resident at the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center who served three years in the Army and 20 years in the National Guard. Brennan’s hobbies include playing on the computer, watching FOX News and being a life-long Looney Tunes fan.

Brennan has two prosthetic legs that he adorned with different Looney Tunes characters.

“[Talking about his left leg] Bugs Bunny and he’s in a blue coat because I was in the National Guard, [talking about his right leg] Yosemite Sam, who I wanted in a red coat,” Brennan said.

Brennan grew up in Williamsport with his two brothers, Dennis and David. As children, Brennan and his brothers would play Army in the yard. That childhood game turned into reality for Brennan.

“For me, it stuck,” Brennan said.

Brennan enlisted in the Army when he was 19 years old for personal reasons aside from his father and brother who served before him. Brennan joined the army because he wanted to drive trucks, and was too young to get his trucking license.

“I aspired to be a truck driver, but I wanted to get experience, so I joined the Army to drive trucks,” Brennan said. 

Brennan served in western Germany during the Vietnam War. Brennan enjoyed his time in Germany, and more specifically loved the food.

“It was awesome … It was always good,” Brennan said.

Brennan was awarded many medals during his time serving in the army.

“[I received] The Armed Forces Reserved Medal, Good Conduct, The Army Achievement Medal,” Brennan said.

Brennan stayed in the Army until he was 21 years old, and he joined the National Guard when he returned home. After a year of service in the National Guard, Brennan realized how much he liked it.

“Best time I’ve had. I was in active military and active guard,” Brennan said.

Brennan stayed in the National Guard for 20 years, and he emphasizes how those years were much different than his time in the Army.

“The National Guard, you work every one weekend a month, two weeks a year. During those weekends we always had a mission,” Brennan said.

Brennan had many different jobs throughout his time in the National Guard, some he liked more than others.

“We still had the Army stuff we had to do, parades, I was in charge of the color guard for four years. That was fun, I got to boss people around quite a bit so that was a blast,” Brennan said.

When Brennan finished serving in the Army, he did not find his return to civilian life to be a challenge.

“Most of my time in active Army was just an 8 to 5 job…the units I was in were all support units. I wasn’t in a combat unit, so when I got back, I just had to find another civilian job,” Brennan said.

Brennan married his wife of 36 years, Jackie Brennan, after his service in the Army. Brennan has four sons, Vincent, Nathan, Justin and Luke, and 11 grandchildren. Brennan enjoys having his family visit him, and Brennan’s wife visits him the most.

“[Jackie visits] as often as she can,” Brennan said.

Brennan treasures his years of service, and he said it helped him grow up and mature. Brennan recommends joining the military to any young person.

“Would I recommend it? Absolutely I would because it gives you a chance to grow up and you grow up a lot faster…That’s what the service does to you, you mature damn quick or you pay the price for it,” Brennan said.