Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient Army MG Patrick Brady
Episode 2798 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Army MG Patrick Brady and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The Medal of Honor Museum website and was titled: Acts of Courage: Patrick Brady’s Heroic Medical Mission. It was submitted by an anonymous writer at the Museum.
It was reported in the story that Doing the right thing — without letting fears of hardship or danger derail us — is a daily act of courage. It requires us to confront reality head-on, accept responsibility, and use intelligence and compassion to do what is right.
On January 6, 1968, U.S. Army Major General Patrick Brady risked his life above and beyond the call of duty to bravely rescue 51 injured soldiers in Vietnam. His brazen exposure to enemy fire and thick fog made the mission seem impossible. Strengthened by courage, Maj. Gen. Brady did the right thing.
After completing Seattle University’s ROTC program, Maj. Gen. Brady joined the U.S. Army. He attended U.S. Army flight school and earned his wings in 1963.
Shortly after, Maj. Gen. Brady received his assignment to the 57th Medical Detachment in Vietnam. He developed and practiced flying techniques to rescue wounded soldiers in bad weather conditions or when under fire.
On January 6, 1968, Maj. Gen. Brady volunteered for an impossible mission: to rescue wounded soldiers from a heavily defended enemy territory covered in dense fog. Despite the odds, he bravely and willingly entered combat.
Commanding a medevac aircraft, Brady carefully maneuvered through fog and smoke, slowly descending and hovering near a valley trail. Moving the helicopter sideways, he blew the fog away using the backwash from his rotor blades. He located the site, which yielded close-range enemy fire. He landed and successfully evacuated two critically wounded South Vietnamese soldiers.
Listen to episode 2798 and discover more about Army MG Patrick Brady and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.
