As  a Navy Midshipman, Brendan wrote these words in his reef points and  reminded himself of this mantra daily. No matter how mundane or great  the task, Brendan believed that giving your all to everything you do is  where one discovers their best self and ultimately, their purpose in  life.Brendan Looney spent his life leading: he led his siblings, his  classmates, his teammates, and in times of war, his Navy SEALs Team.  John Brendan Aloysius Looney was born to Kevin and Maureen Looney on  February 24, 1981 in Southern Maryland. The oldest of six, Brendan was  named after his Grandfather John Aloysius Looney.  Throughout grade school, Brendan played football, basketball and  baseball. From the very beginning, Brendan knew what it meant to work  hard both on and off the field. He expected 100% from himself and  encouraged others to give the same. For Brendan, laziness was not an  option. There were always goals to reach and missions to accomplish. It  was this approach to life that inspired others and became the guiding  principles of his life. Brendan’s love of athletics followed him from childhood to his  father’s alma mater DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD.  Brendan was part of a DeMatha family legacy that included eight of his  uncles. Brendan’s two brothers and numerous cousins have since followed  suit. At DeMatha, Brendan was a decorated athlete in football and  baseball. He also played DeMatha basketball and ran track. As captain  and team MVP, Brendan led the 1998 DeMatha Football team to national  rankings and was recruited by the USNA his senior year.  Due to Brendan’s color blindness, he was required to attend the Naval  Academy Prep School in Newport RI. Brendan arrived in Annapolis in July  2000 as one of only eight color blind applicants to be admitted. During  his youngster year (sophomore) Brendan decided to make a switch from  football to lacrosse. Although he had no experience in organized  lacrosse, Brendan tried out that spring and made Navy’s nationally  ranked team. Two seasons later, Brendan along side his two brothers  Billy (’07) and Stephen (‘06), led Navy to a shot at the NCAA National  Championship. Although Navy fell to Syracuse, the importance of family,  teamwork, and maximum effort reached its pinnacle that year and was  evident in the success of Navy’s 2004 season.  

In  May 2004, Brendan graduated from the Naval Academy and was commissioned  as an Ensign. He began his naval career as an Intelligence officer, and  was deployed first to Korea and then Iraq. Upon completion of those  tours, Brendan requested and was given a lateral transfer to Naval  Special Warfare community in 2006, where he earned the right to attend  Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, known as BUDS. BUDS training  is considered the most grueling and demanding military training in the  world. Each BUD/S class starts with approximately 290 men and an average  10 men make it through to graduation. This is reflected by SEALs motto,  which is “The only Easy Day was Yesterday.” Brendan joined his fellow  BUD/S selectees in Coronado, CA as part of Class 265 in 2007. Brendan  graduated from BUD/S in June 2008 and was bestowed with the highest  honor a BUD/S graduate can receive, being named “Honor Man.” This  distinction is given to the best graduate in each class. Upon graduation  from BUDS Brendan was assigned to SEAL Team THREE. A little less than two weeks after earning his SEAL Trident, Brendan  married the former Amy Hastings. A short 48 hours  after his wedding Brendan was deployed to Iraq. Upon completion of this  tour, Brendan returned back to the States and began his work-ups almost  immediately for his next deployment.  Brendan’s next deployment was to Afghanistan March 9, 2010, his wife  Amy’s birthday. This was to be Brendan’s last deployment, and he and his  brothers of Team 3 completed 59 missions in less than 7 months.  Brendan’s Commanding Officer wrote that “his great qualities as a man  and a diplomat ensured the delivery of humanitarian assistance and  medical treatment for children and a representative governance to an  embattled society.”  On September 21, 2010, 10 days prior to his expected return to the  States, Brendan’s SEALs team helicopter went down in the mountains of  Afghanistan. On that day, Brendan gave his best self to our country. He was 29.  

His legacy was his life. His life was his gift.  A few of Brendan’s military awards and commendations include a Bronze  Star with Valor, Navy Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with  Valor, Navy and Marine Corp Achievement Medal. Brendan was given full  military honors and is interred with his fellow brothers-in-arms at  Arlington National Cemetery. His grave is alongside his fellow fallen  hero and USNA roommate Travis Manion. He truly lived a life of service  before self and as SEALs say “Ready to lead, Ready to follow, Never  Quit!”  ~ loving son of Maureen and Kevin, sibling- captain of Stephen, Billy, Bridget, Erin and Kellie,  devoted husband, friend to many, role model forever ~