Russel Henry Brennan was born September 26, 1882 at Fort Lincoln, North Dakota to Lt. James Brennan (1848-1888) and Mary Warnick (1850 -1907). His parents were married in 1879. His dad was from England and his mom from Utica, New York. His dad died when Russell was six years old. Russell was their middle child which included Edward (often called Warnick in documents) (1880-1903) and Leslie (1884-1938). Although born in North Dakota, Russell grew up in Utica, NY. He was likely born at Fort Lincoln while his dad was stationed there. Russell attended the local schools in the Utica area and graduated from Utica Free Academy in 1900. The 1900 US Census recorded the family living on Howard Ave., Utica, NY. He graduated from Cornell University in 1906 with a law degree.

After Cornell, he returned to Utica and established a law practice with partner Charles DeAngelis. His mom and dad were gone by then so he lived with his younger brother Leslie (a broker for a local Cotton Mill) and Leslie's wife Helen on Genesee St. in Utica, NY. Russell was involved in numerous community groups and events. He was an active and contributing member of the local and state Republican committees. He donated to The Day Nursery, was a member of the committee that formed the County Hospital in Rome, NY, served on numerous civic and social committees in the Utica area, and even kept time at local hockey games. He was a member of the "Conkling Unconditionals", a group of "marching men" in the Utica, NY area. Marching was (and still is) a form of campaigning made famous by the "Wide Awakes" during Civil War times.

In 1916 he entered the service and was a member of the 311th Infantry Regiment part of the 78th Division that was sent to France in the summer of 1918. Before his unit shipped out to France his brother Leslie and wife Helen, along with his parents, traveled to Fort Dix to see him off. By all accounts Russell was a top notch officer. The History of Company B, 311th Infantry in the World War described him thus:

"In Co. 9 was an earnest, dignified, hard working reserve first lieutenant, one of the most capable of the reserve officers on the post. He was a prominent lawyer of Utica, N. Y., and one of the leaders in the Plattsburg movement. Though well over the draft age, he had given up his large practice and had gone into the service at the first call. This was Russell H. Brennan, the first commander of “B” Company. "

September 1917 Fort Dix, N.J. Company B, 311th Infantry Listing 

By war's end (1917) he had been promoted to Major. Soon after, he left the service and returned to his law practice in Utica, NY. While there he continued to be involved in numerous civic duties including being a member of the Utica Chapter of the American Red Cross and serving on its Executive Committee. He was also part of a group that established the County Hospital in Rome, NY. He was a member of the Yahnundasis, Sadaquada and Fort Schuyler Clubs and represented Sadaquada in a number of local golf tournaments. In 1920 he surprised a number of his friends when he rejoined the Army with his previous rank of Major. He was soon promoted again to Lt. Col. and in December 1941 to Colonel . Stationed in Washington, D.C. with the Judge Advocate General's Department he served in the Adjutant General's department until his death in 1942.

"Among the Oneida County lawyers of whom we are lustly proud, who obeyed orders and performed well the duties assigned to them on this side because they were needed and were most valuable to our country here were: Maj. Russell Brennan...."

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in October 1942 for "exceptionally meritorious service." and died at Walter Reed Hospital on November 1, 1942. (his death was announced in a November 3, 1942 Buffalo, NY newspaper).

Col. Russell Brennan died at Walter Read Hospital in Washington, D.C. on October 31, 1942. Only a few weeks before his death, on October 6, 1942, Gen. George C. Marshall, chief of staff, presented him with the Distinguished Service Medal for "important contributions toward securing legislation vital to the War Department in the country's transition from peach to war." His remains were returned home to Utica, NY and buried in the Saint Agnes Cemetery, Utica, NY.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3.

(Please see - http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

Can you help us write these stories? Together We Served and Fold3/Find A Grave have smartphone apps that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery and read these stories of WWII fallen.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute, please contact Jim Greenberg at jim.greenberg@oneonta.edu.

SBTSProject/New York/Oneida

Sources

Adams County Independent; Publication Date: 6/ Jun/ 1908; Publication Place: Littlestown, Pennsylvania, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/360796523/?article=5c6e8c14-66f6-4ef8-be27-61a1cf5cb7ba&focus=0.5669584,0.019354941,0.69736505,0.8139236&xid=3398

American Antiquarian Society; Worcester, Massachusetts; College Student Lists

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January 1, 1942 Official Army Register

"Automobile Accidents Reported Over Fourth", The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., July 5, 1921 pg. 8.

Bean, Philip A., The Great War and Ethnic Nationalism in Utica, New York, 1914-1920, The New York Historical Association, October 1993.

Buffalo Courier Express; Publication Date: 3 Nov 1942; Publication Place: Buffalo, New York, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/976463416/?article=83902578-67e2-4cba-94e9-bce8a236b9d4&focus=0.73527455,0.70821404,0.8563344,0.81239724&xid=3355

"Col. Russell Brennan, Army's Chief Adviser On Legislation, Dies" The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 2, 1942, pg. A-10.

Colonna, B.A., editor, The History of Company B, 311 Infantry in the World War, Freehold, N.J., 1922.

"Committee of 100 Named", The Rome Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, July 25, 1914, pg. 9.

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His FAG - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/240256575/russell_h-brennan: accessed May 5, 2026), memorial page for COL Russell H. Brennan (26 Sep 1882–1 Nov 1942), Find a Grave Memorial ID 240256575, citing Saint Agnes Cemetery, Utica, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by PaPasgirl (contributor 48623246).

Dad's FAG - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/240258331/james-brennan: accessed May 5, 2026), memorial page for LT James Brennan (11 Dec 1848–15 Jul 1888), Find a Grave Memorial ID 240258331, citing Saint Agnes Cemetery, Utica, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by PaPasgirl (contributor 48623246).

History of the 311th Infantry (78th Division)", Public Domain in the United States and digitized by Google. Accessed at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101042040533&seq=9 on May 8, 2026.

Mom's FAG - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/240258375/mary-brennan: accessed May 5, 2026), memorial page for Mary Warnick Brennan (14 Mar 1850–4 Feb 1907), Find a Grave Memorial ID 240258375, citing Saint Agnes Cemetery, Utica, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by PaPasgirl (contributor 48623246).

"Many Witnesses of Banquet's Success", Utica Herald-Dispatch, Utica, NY, January 27, 1919, pg. 7

The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85

The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Manifests of Passengers Arriving At St. Albans, Vt, District Through Canadian Pacific and Atlantic Ports, 1895-1954; NAI: 4492490; Record Group: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: M1464; Roll Number: 597

New York State Department of State, Peddlers' Licenses, 1840-1896, 1949-1956 Series-Accretion A0352-78. New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

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"Sadaquada Celebrates", The Utica Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY, September 24, 1920, pg. 2

"Taken in 1891 at a Utica School --- Know Them Now?", The Utica Observer-Dispatch, March 2, 1930, pg 3.

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"Unconditionals to Reorganize", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, August 22, 1916, pg. 5

"U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Cornell University; Year: 1906

Year: 1900; Census Place: Utica Ward 4, Oneida, New York; Roll: 1133; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0056

Year: 1910; Census Place: Utica Ward 11, Oneida, New York; Roll: T624_1053; Page: 1a; Enumeration District: 0146; FHL microfilm: 1375066

Supporting Documents