On this day in 1968, he flew repeatedly into hostile fire to save the injured. Two helicopters were shot out from under him, and he didn't stop. He was credited with the evacuation of 51 severely wounded soldiers, and for his courage, he received our Nation's highest honor.
From Medal of Honor Citations for the Vietnam War:
BRADY, PATRICK HENRY
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, Medical
Service Corps, 54th Medical Detachment, 67th Medical Group, 44th Medical
Brigade. Place and date: Near Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam, 6 January 1968.
Entered service at: Seattle, Wash. Born: 1 October 1936, Philip, S. Dak.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty, Maj. Brady distinguished himself while
serving in the Republic of Vietnam commanding a UH-1H ambulance helicopter,
volunteered to rescue wounded men from a site in enemy held territory which was
reported to be heavily defended and to be blanketed by fog. To reach the site he
descended through heavy fog and smoke and hovered slowly along a valley trail,
turning his ship sideward to blow away the fog with the backwash from his rotor
blades. Despite the unchallenged, close-range enemy fire, he found the
dangerously small site, where he successfully landed and evacuated 2 badly
wounded South Vietnamese soldiers. He was then called to another area completely
covered by dense fog where American casualties lay only 50 meters from the
enemy. Two aircraft had previously been shot down and others had made
unsuccessful attempts to reach this site earlier in the day. With unmatched
skill and extraordinary courage, Maj. Brady made 4 flights to this embattled
landing zone and successfully rescued all the wounded. On his third mission of
the day Maj. Brady once again landed at a site surrounded by the enemy. The
friendly ground force, pinned down by enemy fire, had been unable to reach and
secure the landing zone. Although his aircraft had been badly damaged and his
controls partially shot away during his initial entry into this area, he
returned minutes later and rescued the remaining injured. Shortly thereafter,
obtaining a replacement aircraft, Maj. Brady was requested to land in an enemy
minefield where a platoon of American soldiers was trapped. A mine detonated
near his helicopter, wounding 2 crewmembers and damaging his ship. In spite of
this, he managed to fly 6 severely injured patients to medical aid. Throughout
that day Maj. Brady utilized 3 helicopters to evacuate a total of 51 seriously
wounded men, many of whom would have perished without prompt medical treatment.
Maj. Brady's bravery was in the highest traditions of the military service and
reflects great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
Brady retired from the United States Army as a Major General in 1993. He is still living, and is one of just two individuals to receive both the Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Cross for actions in Vietnam.
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