A scholarship fund has been created, honoring Major General Patrick Brady, for his lifetime of heroism and commitment of service to our country. The Major General Patrick Brady Medal of Honor – Fort Chadbourne Scholarship Fund, will benefit students from the Concho Valley who have a firm understanding of the value of patriotism, exhibit good citizenship and demonstrate service to community.
Major General Brady spent over 34 years in the Army serving in duty stations all over the world. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for a series of helicopter rescues while serving during the Vietnam War. During his two tours, he flew over 2,500 combat missions and helped rescue over 5,000 wounded men, women, and children. Developing foul weather and tactical techniques for air ambulance rescues, never before executed in combat, Major General Patrick Brady has been identified in the Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War and other books as the top helicopter pilot. Brady is the only living veteran to hold both the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross, our nation’s second highest award and one of the very few soldiers ever to hold all three of the Army’s highest awards. With a shift in increased demand for trade skills, this scholarship aims to provide students entering a trade or technical school with the support they need to be successful. "I would encourage students to measure success by their work ethic. This type of dedication builds character, fosters responsibility, and will help share the kind of citizens who will contribute meaningfully to the future security of our nation" states Major General Brady.
When Major General Patrick Brady spoke at Fort Chadbourne’s Evening with A Hero event in 2022, this sparked a friendship with the organization and inspired the creation of this scholarship fund that pays tribute to the sacrifice of General Brady. A curated collection of his uniform and ribbons are included in the Medal of Honor designated area of the Fort Chadbourne Museum.
Click here to make an online contribution directly to the scholarship fund. Checks can be mailed directly to:
San Angelo Area Foundation
221 S. Irving St.
San Angelo, TX 76903
Please include Major General Patrick Brady, Medal of Honor recipient, Ft. Chadbourne Scholarship Fund in the memo.
PATRICK HENRY BRADY
Congressional Medal of Honor
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.
To learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor - Stories of Sacrifice, click here.
Learn more about the Medal of Honor display at Fort Chadbourne.
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