Martin Brandtner

Early life and education

Brandtner was born on 3 July 1938 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He majored in English at the University of Minnesota, where he earned varsity letters on the football and wrestling teams. Upon his graduation in 1960, he was commissioned a second lieutenant via the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Regular Scholarship Program following graduation from the University of Minnesota in June 1960.

U.S. 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.

Reassigned to the 1st Marine Brigade, FMF, in February 1962, he served with the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines as a rifle platoon commander, battalion staff officer, rifle company executive officer and rifle company commander, respectively.

In February 1965, General Brandtner was assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Iwakuni, Japan, serving as the S-1/Adjutant of Marine Wing Headquarters Group 1. Deploying to the Republic of Vietnam in April 1965, he assumed additional duties as Area Defense Coordinator for the Wing Headquarters compound at Da Nang Air Base.

Returning from overseas in April 1966, he reported to the Landing Force Training Command, Pacific, where he served as Branch Head of the Basic Amphibious Training Branch.

In July 1968, General Brandtner returned to the Republic of Vietnam, where he joined the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines serving as a rifle company commander, and upon promotion to major in November 1968, as Battalion Operations Officer and Battalion Executive Officer. While serving as Commanding Officer, Company D, he was wounded in action and was twice awarded the Navy Cross, the nation’s second highest award for valor in combat. He is one of only two Marines to earn that distinction in the Vietnam War.

In August 1969, General Brandtner returned to the United States and assumed duties as the Inspector-Instructor, 26th Rifle Company, United States Marine Corps Reserve, Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he served until selected to attend the Naval War College of Command and General Staff, Newport, Rhode Island, in 1972. He graduated with honors and earned a master’s degree in International Relations from George Washington University in 1973.

General Brandtner then reported to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., where he served as a Plans Officer in the Plans Division until July 1976.

Again assigned overseas, he reported to the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, Japan, where he served as the G-3 Operations Officer until he returned to the United States in July 1977. While overseas, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in April 1977.

From July 1977 to June 1980, General Brandtner was assigned to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, where he served initially as the Executive Officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion. He subsequently was assigned as the Commanding Officer, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, where he served until selected to attend the Air War College in July 1980.

Graduating with distinction from the Air War College in July 1981, General Brandtner was selected to be the Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, where he served until July 1984. During this tour, he was promoted to colonel in July 1982.

Returning to the FMF, General Brandtner was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4, I Marine Amphibious Force, Camp Pendleton, California, where he served until May 1985. The following month, he assumed command of the 5th Marine Regiment. 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.

Military awards

Brandtner’s personal decorations include:

Post-military career

General Brandtner retired to Reno, Nevada and served as Development Director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno. He also sat on the Board of Directors for Bishop Manogue High School.

He died on 3 January 2017, at the age of 78, in Reno, Nevada. On 18 January 2017, he was interred at Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, in Fernley, Nevada, with full military honors.