Donald Patrick Brosnan

BROSNAN, DONALD PATRICK Soldier, Archivist, Historian, Writer and Teacher 03/06/1925 – 01/21/2021 Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather was the son of Denis “Denis Sean Og” Brosnan of Glounlea, Co. Kerry and Mary Ann “Minnie” Hickey of Gneeveguilla, Co. Kerry. Donald “Danny” was born in Oakland, California. The family returned to Co. Kerry in 1929 and he was raised and educated in Ireland. Educated at Gneeveguilla National School, St. Brendan’s Seminary, Killarney and Rockwell College, Cashel, Co. Tipperary. Graduated from Atlantic College, Dublin and received a diploma in radio engineering (Maritine Radio Officer). Received an AA degree in Education from Pima College and BA degree in History from the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona where he also took graduate courses. A professional soldier – served in the: Irish Local Defense Force (LDF), 1940 – 1942 Irish Regular Army, 10th Uisneach Battalion, 1942 – 1946 United States Army, 508 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, 1946 – 1947 During the Berlin Blockade in 1948 with the 16th U.S. Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division; 6th U.S. Infantry Regiment (Korean War) 1950 – 1953 9th Infantry Division (Vietnam War) 1968 – 1969 Served with the U.S. Special Forces – “The Green Berets” for over 10 years and was a member of the original 10th Special Forces Group. He was mentioned in the book “Inside the Green Berets”. An expert in guerrilla and unconventional warfare and behind enemy lines operations he trained with elite elements of the French Foreign Legion; German Mountain Troops, British Special Air Service and Italian Alpini Troops. In addition he was involved in providing specialized training to selected officers and soldiers of the armies of the Shah of Iran; King Hussein of Jordan; King Faisal of Saudi Arabia; the governments of Pakistan and Turkey and CIA indigenous personnel. He was blockaded in Berlin by the Russians during the 1948 Berlin blockade and again was serving in Berlin when the infamous Berlin Wall was erected in August 1961. (The wall was torn down on November 10, 1989). Decorations: Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star (4 oak leaf clusters and V for valor) Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal (25 oak leaf clusters) Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Along with numerous other Irish, Vietnamese and United States service medals. Awards: Combat Infantry Badge (awarded for ground fighting with the enemy) Master Parachute Wings (over 300 jumps) German Parachute Wings Glider Wings Pathfinder Badge Special Forces Tab and the Green Beret. Served in the military academic environment at the Army Air Defense School; United States Military Academy at West Point, New York; United States Military Academy Preparatory School at Fort Belvoir Virginia and the Reserve Office’s Training Corps (ROTC) at the University of Arizona. Retired from active duty in 1974 with the rank of Command Sergeant Major. He pursued a second career in the field of Archival, Information and Records Management. Employed by the City Manager of the City of Tucson as his Records Supervisor; appointed the Records Management Officer of the State of Arizona by the Governor but declined and assumed the positon of Records Management Officer, Archivist and Historian for Pima County, Arizona. Member of the faculty of Pima College and he is retired from the University of Arizona. Listed in Who’s Who: Library and Information Science – American Library Association – Tenth Edition. Irish American Who’s Who – First Edition Men of Achievement – International – Eleventh Division Admitted to the Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM) and was the first member from the State of Arizona (1975). He was well-known and active on the speaker’s circuit in the Southwestern United States and is a member of several professional and veteran organization to include: Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American Legion, Society of American Archivists (SAA), Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA) and the American Association for State and Local Government (AASLH). Danny loved Gaelic Football and played with several teams to include the following: 1939 – 40 Gneevegulla Football Club 1945 Rathmore Football Club 1945 Co. Tipperary Senior Football Team 1945 10th Ulsnach Battalion, Templemore Co. Tipperary – they won the Mid-Tipperary Championship and Co. Tipperary County Championship 1946 & 1949 The Legion Football Club, Killarney, Co. Kerry winners of the Kerry County Championship both years. He has won medals for track, rugby and handball. On June 25, 1952, he married the love of his life, Elizabeth Jessica “Betty” Cauldwell, in McNair Barracks Chapel, Berlin Germany. His beloved wife shared in all his adventures and achievements traveling across Europe, South Africa and the United States. Together they raised four children, Mary Theresa “Maureen”, Kathleen Ann “Kathy”, John Francis and Donald Patrick II “Don”. Danny is survived by his loving wife of 69 years Elizabeth, children Maureen, Kathy (spouse Jim), John and Don, grandchildren Claire (spouse Jordan), Tera (spouse Nathan), Kristopher (spouse Samantha), Ian, Sean Og and Caitlin and great grandchildren Addison, Penelope, Ryker, Griffin and Owen. Danny created a beautiful family, he loved to work in his and son John’s gardens, and he enjoyed to play golf with his wife Elizabeth, along with researching and writing six family genealogy books, which are available at the Library of Congress. He loved to laugh and enjoy life to its fullest, he touched so many lives and he will be greatly missed by us all. Services for Danny are: February 2, 2021 5pm – 6pm at Brings Mortuary on Broadway, Rosary February 3, 2021 10am at Saint Francis De Sales Church, Mass February 4, 2021 11:30am at Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Sierra Vista Arizona - Burial Due to Covid-19 rules and regulations limiting service attendance, therefore the family will host a Celebration of Danny’s life for family and friends later in the year. Visitation for immediate family only will be from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Tuesday February 2, 2021 with a Rosary recited at 6:00 PM at Bring's Broaday Chapel 6910 East Broadway, Tucson. Due to current concerns regarding public health and safety, friends are encouraged to pay their respects virtually at: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/46436 Funeral Mass will be offered at 10:00 AM on Wednesday February 3, 2021 at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church 1375 South Camino Seco, Tucson. Burial with full military honors will take place at 11:30 AM on Thursday February 4, 2021 at the Arizona Veteran's Memorial Cemetery 1300 South Buffalo Soldier Trail, Sierra Vista, Arizona.