We regret to advise of the death of Second Lieutenant Jeston V. “Buddy” Brennan (Ret'd) on 12 March 2019 at the Listowel (ON) Memorial Hospital in his 87th year. Buddy was a Korean War veteran
Buddy was born in St. George ON and, unable to find regular work as a teenager, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Regiment in 1950 for service during the Korean War. He underwent parachute training in Churchill MB, mountain training in Jasper National Park AB, and combat/commando training in Japan before he deployed to Pusan. Buddy saw action in Korea at Hill 355, ‘The Hook’ and Hill 587. Quickly promoted to corporal, he was cited for repeated acts of bravery and was promoted to sergeant and then to second lieutenant by war’s end in 1953.
Buddy worked in a variety of military positions for the military upon returning to Canada after his service in Korea. He was particularly fond of being a jump instructor at the Jump School Shilo MB later in the ‘50s. He also trained cadets at Camp Ipperwash ON, joined the Militia with the Royal Canadian Engineers and later trained air cadets in Dundas and Listowel.
Buddy had been a member of The Royal Canadian Legion since 1955. He worked tirelessly to promote Canadian Korean War Veterans and travelled the country to speak about how Veterans have made a difference. He championed the creation of the Korean monument that was erected in the Listowel Cenotaph Park in 2004. Buddy belonged to the Korean Veterans Association in Kitchener and served as the Memorial Chairman, assisting other Canadian communities in placing their own Korean War monuments. In addition to receiving the Ambassador for Peace Medal by South Korea, Brennan was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work with Korean War veterans. He also received the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation in 2012 for this work.
Visitation at Listowel Community Family Funeral Home, Wallace Ave. N. will be on Saturday, 16 March 2019, from 2 - 4:00 PM. A funeral service, combined with a Legion service, to be held at the Listowel Pentecostal Church on Sunday, 17 March 2019 at 2:00 PM. Memorial donations to the Canadian Cancer Society (536 Huron St., Stratford, ON N5A 9Z9) would be appreciated. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home. {khMar20}
