Martin Brandtner

Martin Louis Brandtner (3 July 1938 – 3 January 2017) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps lieutenant general. He was one of just two Marines to be awarded two Navy Crosses during the Vietnam War.

Early life and education Brandtner was born on 3 July 1938 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Alex Peter and Ida Marie (née Kjelstad) Brandtner. He majored in English at the University of Minnesota, where he earned varsity letters on the football and wrestling teams.

Marine Corps career Following graduation from The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia, in March 1961, General Brandtner remained at Quantico where he was assigned to the Officer Candidates School, serving as a platoon leader until January 1962. In July 1986, he was assigned duty as Chief of Staff, 1st Marine Division, FMF. While serving in this capacity, he was selected in December 1987 for promotion to brigadier general. He was assigned duty as the Assistant Division Commander, 2d Marine Division, FMF, Atlantic, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on 1 June 1988 and advanced to brigadier general on 25 July 1988, and assigned duty as the Commanding General, 2d Force Service Support Group (Rein), FMF, Atlantic, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on 27 September 1988. From December 1988 through February 1989, General Brandtner served as the Commanding General, 10th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, at Camp Lejeune.

Advanced to major general on 11 May 1990, he was assigned duty as the Vice Director for Operations, J-3 Joint Staff, on 3 July 1990. General Brandtner was promoted to lieutenant general on 11 March 1991, and assumed duty as Director for Operations, J-3, Joint Staff, Washington. He served in this capacity until his retirement on 1 June 1993.

First Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Martin L. Brandtner (MCSN: 0-80625), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Commanding Officer of Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 3 September 1968, while conducting a reconnaissance in force near the village of Lan Phouc in Quang Nam Province, the lead platoon of Company D became pinned down by intense automatic weapons fire from a large North Vietnamese Army force. As he moved forward to assess the situation, Captain Brandtner was wounded by grenade launcher fire from an enemy soldier standing in a nearby trench. With complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Brandtner boldly exposed himself to the hostile fire and hurling a hand grenade, killed the North Vietnamese soldier. Suddenly, the Marines came under an intense North Vietnamese hand grenade attack, and when one of the lethal objects landed at Captain Brandtner's feet, he unhesitatingly seized the grenade and threw it back at the enemy. On two more occasions he completely disregarded his own safety to seize hand grenades which were thrown near his position and hurl them toward the hostile force. When another grenade landed in the midst of four nearby Marines, Captain Brandtner fearlessly rushed to their position, picked up the lethal object and hurled it away from his companions. Then, concerned only for the welfare of his fellow Marines, he knocked two of the men to the ground and quickly placed himself on top of them, thereby absorbing the fragments from the exploding grenade in his protective armor and preventing possible death or serious injury to his companions. Realizing the numerical superiority of the enemy, he consolidated his company's position and skillfully adjusted effective supporting arms fire which caused the hostile force to flee and enabled his Marines to overrun the objective. By his courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and selfless devotion to duty at the risk of his life, Captain Brandtner sustained and enhanced the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.