Patrick Henry Brady

Flew through fog and gunfire to evacuate 51 wounded soldiers

Patrick Henry Brady was born in Philip, South Dakota, on 1 October 1936. He entered the Army through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Seattle University and later qualified as a helicopter pilot. Serving in the Medical Service Corps, he flew medical evacuation missions in Vietnam, where he completed two tours and became known for flying into dangerous landing zones to bring wounded soldiers to medical care.

On 6 January 1968, Major Brady was commanding a UH-1H ambulance helicopter near Chu Lai when he volunteered to reach wounded men in enemy-held territory. Heavy fog and smoke concealed the landing areas, and previous attempts to reach one site had failed. Brady descended through the poor visibility, using his helicopter’s rotor wash to clear fog from a narrow valley trail. He landed under close-range fire and evacuated two badly wounded South Vietnamese soldiers. He then made repeated trips to other landing zones, including one surrounded by enemy forces where American casualties were pinned down. After his helicopter was damaged and its controls partly shot away, he returned in it to collect more wounded. He later took a replacement aircraft into a minefield to evacuate a trapped platoon. By the end of the day, using three helicopters, he had carried 51 seriously wounded men to medical aid.

Brady received the Medal of Honor from President Richard Nixon at the White House on 9 October 1969. He also earned the Distinguished Service Cross for service in Vietnam. He later commanded the 326th Medical Battalion, graduated from the Army War College in 1978 and served as Army Chief of Public Affairs. He retired as a major general in 1993 after 34 years of service. After retirement, he continued serving veterans through the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and its Foundation.

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 two 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 four flights to this embattled landing zone and successfully rescued all of 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 mine field where a platoon of American soldiers was trapped. A mine detonated near his helicopter, wounding two crewmembers and damaging his ship. In spite of this, he managed to fly six severely injured patients to medical aid. Throughout that day Maj. Brady utilized three 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.”