Patrick Henry Brady
| Patrick Henry Brady | |
|---|---|
Brady in 1989
|
|
| Born |
October 1, 1936 Philip, South Dakota |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1959 - 1993 |
| Rank |
 Major General
|
| Unit |
57th Medical Detachment 54th Medical Detachment |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross (6) Bronze Star with "V" Device (2) Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal (3) Air Medal (52) with "V" Device Army Commendation Medal (2) |
| Spouse(s) | Nancy Brady |
Patrick Henry Brady (born October 1, 1936), is a retired United States Army major general. While serving as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, he received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration for valor.
Brady attended O'Dea High School in Seattle, Washington, an all-boys school run by the Congregation of Christian Brothers, where he was active in sports.
While in college at Seattle University, he initially hated the compulsory ROTC program and was kicked out. Brady realized he would probably be drafted after graduation and reentered the ROTC program in order to enter military service as an officer. After graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Medical Service Corps On March 20, 1959. On April 4, 1959, he went on active duty. He served in Berlin (Germany), from September 1959 to August 1961, with the 6th Infantry Bragade. In August 1961, he became the Motor Pool Officer of the hospital in the 279th Station Hospital in Berlin. He became the Detachment Commander in June 1962 until October 1962. In December 1963, he graduated from the United States Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Alabama.In January 1964, he deployed to Vietnam.
During his first tour in Vietnam, from January 1964 to January 1965, then-Captain Brady served as a Dust Off pilot with the 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance), where his commanding officer was the legendary Major Charles Kelly. After Kelly's death on July 1, 1964, Brady took command of Detachment A, 57th Medical's Detachment, at Sóc Trăng. The following day, a Commander tossed the bullet that killed Kelly on Brady's desk in front of Captain Brady and asked if they were going to stop flying so aggressively. Brady picked up the bullet and replied, "we are going to keep flying exactly the way Kelly taught us to fly, without hesitation, anytime, anywhere."
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Wikipedia