FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Patrick Henry Brady ~ March 16, 2009

Serving The Best Troops And Veterans In The World! | StarCMC and Simba

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Patrick Henry Brady
All info and photos from this website.

           

Brady attended O'Dea High School in Seattle, Washington, a strict, 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 reentered the ROTC to enter the service as an officer. After graduation he was commissioned a 2d Lieutenant in the Army Medical Service Corps in 1959.

During his first tour in Vietnam, then Captain Brady served with the 57th Medical Detachment, where his commanding officer was the legendary Major Charles Kelly. After Kelly's death on July 1, 1964, Brady took command of the 57th Medical's Detachment A in Soc Trang. On his second tour, Brady, now a major, commanded the 54th Medical Detachment. It was during this tour that Brady earned his Medal of Honor.

During his two tours in Vietnam Brady evacuated 5000 wounded. After Vietnam Brady continued in the army, retiring as a Major General in 1993 after 34 years of service. He now serves as Chairman of the Citizens Flag Alliance, an organization dedicated to protecting the American flag from desecration.

 

Medal of Honor citation

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, January 6, 1968.

Entered service at: Seattle, Wash.

Born: October 1, 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.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[MeekMom]

re: 136
You nut!
Those are cute!

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Pusterfuss]

Good morning Kathy. (38)

[Dustoff45]

Kathy - Patrick Brady is the real deal. In 1968, I served as a DustOff pilot in an Aviation Medical company in 'Nam.

In my last few months I had the chance to be farmed out to some of the smaller detachments. One of those deployments was to serve with the 54th Medical Detachment at Chu Lai.

Major Pat Brady had finished his second tour of duty at that time, but he was the talk of the unit. He had encouraged his entire unit to tremendous levels of courage and bravery and they all were a pleasure to serve with.

One famous "Major Brady" story was a request for an evacuation from a Special Forces camp west of Chu Lai. The weather was terrible and the mission was at night.

Major Brady requested radar vectors to fly in the weather at altitude to the vicinity of the camp. Then he requested the ground unit to shoot mortar flares into the air above the camp. He used the flares as a reference point and descended in the soup. He needed several flares to complete the descent.

Flying on instruments in a Huey, at night, in bad weather is hard enough, but to transition to a spiral descent with an object so bright it kills your night vision was next to impossible.

I repeat this story because I heard it first hand from members of his unit. Later read other reports confirming the details. His actions inspired me and speaks well of how our military serves our nation by serving their own so well.

[E.G.C.]

Morning coffee bump

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, Dustoff45....thank your for sharing your memories of Major Brady. And thank you for your service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Pusterfuss...((HUGS))...Conference Day and more wild weather. It is 6 here...up and down, up and down, up and down.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E...((HUGS))...hope Chuck is doing better. Still have house guests?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Nana Hope, for today's Pledge. Thanks, AfghanMan and Penguin Girl, for your service to America.

[E.G.C.]

Yep, Chuck's doing OK. He'll be heading up to the city next week for oxygen therapy for his left foot.

My brother and his family from Texas are here for one more day. He got his wife's Windows Vista back to working. Had some problems with it the last few days.

And, I did some lawnmowing also. Grass is growing fast. Spring arrives on Friday.

[Kathy in Alaska]

That’s right, spring is coming. Glad your brother got his wife’s computer working again. I really don’t like computer problems.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

Coffee is always on........

How about a donut?

Cookies?

Veggies?

Sandwich?

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning to everyone at the Canteen. (((HUGS))) to all.
Cool here, but should warm up to the 80s later. I have plenty of gardening to do today.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Everyone. Good morning to our

Military, our Allies, and their families. THANK YOU for all you do.

Thank you, Star, for preparing the Canteen for today’s activities.

DC Metroland weather report

~ Today.....Cloudy Skies w/ Pockets of Drizzle & Fog (Especially AM) HIGHS: 45 - 50 WINDS: E - 5

~ Tonight..... Cloudy w/ Drizzle & Fog LOWS: Near 40 WINDS: NE 5 - 10

Sorry I'm late. It looks like this Monday is starting out to be pretty busy. So, this is a quick in and out then I'll be going to "cloaking mode."

Off to make my rounds. Never fear..............I'll be bock!

Now remember, the Canteen is

So, come on in and sit for a while. There's always plenty of coffee, pancakes, conversation, silliness, and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM

DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

>

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

[PROCON]

Beachie, there you are!!

Good morning!

Still raining here with more expected, so it was another indoors weekend.

How ya doing?!

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Morning, Beach. How’s it going?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, pro

((hugs))

It’s been a crazy morning. It seemed to take me hours to get that morning post done. I’d get started, then get interrupted. I’m looking at the clock and it’s almost ten already.

We had a rainy weekend, which we did need. So, yeah spent most of the time inside. It’s not raining at the moment but may be getting more later.

Did you do anything exciting while stuck in doors? Oh, please keep it G-rated - LOL

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, dear

(((HUGS)))

Have fun in the garden