Richard Allen Brandt

A honorable and distinguished veteran of the United States Army who served during World War 2 and the Korean War, Richard Allen Brandt at age 86 has been called upon the Lord Jesus Christ to come home. Master Sergeant Richard A. Brandt dedicated his entire life to the service of country and community.Msg Richard Allen Brandt was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 20, 1928. Richard Allen Brandt’s loving parents are Raymond G. Brandt and Hellen Brenner Brandt who were also native Minnesotans as well. Msg Richard Allen Brandt is the husband of his beloved beautiful wife, Nola Brandt, and happily married for 44 plus years. At the young age of 17, Msg Brandt joined the Merchant Marines on August 1944; he served as a deck hand on various naval ships in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean war zones during World War 2. In November 1946, Msg Brandt transitioned from the Merchant Marines to the United States Army; he was assigned to the Eighty-Eighty U.S. Infantry Division at Vienna, Austria in 1948 where he served in the heavy weapons company for the next three years. Later on, Msg Brandt was assigned to the Fourth Regimental Combat team at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska, and he was then assigned to the Second U.S. Infantry Division at Fort Lewis,Washington. In 1954, Msg Brandt volunteered for armor operations with the Third Armored Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky; he then received orders to Butzbach, Germany with the 54th Field Artillery, 3rd Armored Division. While stationed in Butzbach, Msg Brandt attended the United States Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Munich, Germany, and graduated with distinction and honors in NCO leadership.

Msg Brandt returned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and served with the 2nd Field Artillery as senior Chief of Firing Battery; the Chief of Firing Battery is the senior noncommissioned officer who is responsible for delivering fires, directing occupation of the guns and maintains firing capability, developing and executing the platoon’s defense plan, and serving as the Chief Safety Supervisor on the gun line. In 1959, Msg Brandt applied for Senior ROTC duty and was accepted at the University of Santa Clara, California, as the Senior Enlisted Instructor of the Army ROTC program. Msg Brandt served as ROTC Instructor at the University of Santa Clara until June 1962 when he was ordered to South Korea with the Eight United States Army to serve as Chief of Intelligence and Operations. In 1966, Msg Brandt was assigned to the U.S. Army Ordnance School at Aberdeen, Maryland as S3, Operations; where he served his duty as the Chief of Training for Ordnance Personnel in Tactics and Vietnam Orientation. Msg Richard A. Brandt retired from the United States Army on June 1967 after serving 23 years to his beloved Corps. Returning to Los Angles, California, Msg Brandt applied and was accepted as JROTC Instructor at Fairfax High School. In 1969, Msg Brandt was assigned to Franklin High School as Senior Army Instructor and later retired from the Los Angles School System after 20 years of public service.

Msg Richard Brandt’s endeavors are quite inspirational. The selflessness to devote 23 years in the United States Army reveres him as ‘the soldier’ who embodies the Army’s pretium: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. Msg Brandt’s love for God and Country is the exemplification that manifests the Army’s esprit de corps “faith in God, then we’re right, and we’ll fight with all our might as the Army keeps rolling along.” Also, Msg Brandt faithfully devoted another 20 years to educating high school kids and college students on military customs, courtesies, and history at the University of Santa Clara, Fairfax High School, and Franklin High School. Msg Brandt’s passion of educating kids on the importance of love for God, country, and the Army core values represent his monumental achievement. His devotion and altruism to helping kids in the local community and church, and his selfless act of heroism to serve and protect the United States of America dignifies my grandfather as a true American hero.

Msg Richard Allen Brandt is survived by his loving beautiful daughter, Dawn Eveanna Lane; his courageous, upstanding son-in-law, Harry James Lane; his faithful adoring grandson, Jonathan Christopher Lane; his cherished brother Gary Brandt and his beloved sister Mary Ann Helmbrecht; to include, Gary and Mary Ann’s kids and grandkids.

I love you unconditionally, Grandpa, and I look forward to hugging you again!

Your grandson, Jonathan C. Lane

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Msg Richard Allen Brandt is survived by his loving beautiful daughter, Dawn

Eveanna Lane; his courageous and upstanding son-in-law, Harry James Lane; his faithful

adoring grandson, Jonathan Christopher Lane; his cherished brother Gary Brandt

and his beloved sister Mary Ann Helmbrecht; to include, Gary and Mary Ann’s kids and

grandkids.

For my beloved Grandfather,

I mourn of my grandfather’s passing,

and I feel tremendous despair,

I question God “how is this fair?”

I have little faith now,

but an abundance of love and care;

I wish I am with him,

right now, right there!

I reminisce the summer days of May and June,

where he and I walk adjacent of the flower’s bloom.

His warmth, and big hugs,

give me joyance and please;

his adoring touch renders the sunset caressing the majestic blue sea.

I enjoy our grandfather and grandson talks,

his insightful guidance,

and his pious words of wisdom;

Especially when my grandfather says “have faith my grandson, Christ is risen.”

Anxiety and loneliness, I no longer fear,

because I know in my heart, my grandfather will always be here;

I am so sorry to question you dear God,

For I no longer have despair,

All because I know you took my grandfather out of love and care.

I will see you in heaven, grandpa! Love mom, dad, and I.