Courtesy of Frank "Tom" Goins
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PFC - E3 - Army - Selective Service 25th Infantry Division Length of service 1 years His tour began on Jul 15, 1966 Casualty was on Feb 5, 1967 In PHUOC LONG, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Body was recovered Panel 14E - Line 122 More information on February 5th, 1967 |
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Headquarters, United States Army Vietnam
APO San Francisco 96375
GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER No. 46 26 October 1967
AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously.
Brady ,Joseph Martin (US52617637), Private First Class, U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, APO 96225
Awarded:Distinguished Service Cross
Date of Action: 5 February 1967
Theater:Republic of Vietnam
Reason: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Joseph Martin Brady (US52617637), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Brady distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions extraordinary heroism while participating in a search and destroy operation against hostile forces near Tapang Son, Republic of Vietnam, on 5 February 1967. The lead elements of Private Brady's Company were suddenly taken under extremely intense and accurate gun fire from a Viet Cong force of undetermined size concealed in well fortified positions. The Third Platoon immediately maneuvered forward to flank the enemy positions, simultaneously drawing a heavy volume of enemy fire. As they maneuvered towards their objective, one of the armored personnel carriers was struck by an enemy (RPG-2) recoilless rife round and burst into flames, seriously wounding all of its occupants. Without hesitation, Private Brady fearlessly exposed himself to the withering enemy fire as he dismounted his own vehicle and rushed to the aid of his wounded comrades. Private Brady, upon arriving at the flaming armored personnel carrier, entered the vehicle and assisted a wounded comrade out of the raging flames to the comparative safety of his own vehicle. Once again, he traversed through the bullet riddled enemy "Killing Zone," entering the vehicle and helping another wounded comrade to safety. Once he was assured that all of his wounded comrades were safely evacuated, Private Brady again returned to the flaming vehicle, attempting to extinguish the blazing flames. Realizing that the flames had spread too rapidly to completely extinguish, Private Brady crawled into the driver's compartment and shut off the master switch, completely disregarding the intense heat. Although knowing that the vehicle might explode at anytime, Private Brady then climbed into the cupola of the vehicle, exposing himself to the enemy fire, and began to place a suppressive volume of .50 caliber fire into the enemy positions, attempting to subdue the withering enemy fire and allow his comrades to flank the enemy positions. He quickly found his target, eliminating the enemy automatic weapons position and killing three of the enemy insurgents. Simultaneously, Private Brady began to receive heavy sniper fire into his position. Although uncertain of the enemy's location, Private Brady aggressively began to search for the insurgent by fire, spraying the area with a devastating volley of .50 caliber fire. Ignoring the enemy sniper rounds that were ricocheting off of his cupola, Private Brady continued to expose himself, trying to eliminate the enemy, until he was mortally wounded by the enemy sniper rounds. Through his indomitable courage, complete disregard for his own safety, and profound concern for his fellow soldiers, all of the wounded men in the burning armored personnel carrier were quickly evacuated; the flames were controlled and the vehicle eventually rescued, and the enemy automatic weapons position was silenced, allowing his comrades to overrun and disperse the enemy without sustaining any further friendly casualties. Private Brady's conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself, and the Armed Forces of his country.
Department of the Army, General Orders No. 46 (October 26, 1967)
Home Town: Weston, West Virginia
Authority:By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 25 July 1963.
