The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Allen Colby Brady (NSN: 0-542856/1310), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as an A-6A pilot in Attack Squadron EIGHTY-FIVE (VA-85), deployed aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), In action on 19 January 1967 during a boldly-planned daylight strike against the strategic Dong Phong Thuong Railway Bridge in North Vietnam. Despite a constant missile hazard and heavy antiaircraft-artillery and automatic weapons fire en route to and in the target area, Captain Brady courageously pursued the target and, with increased personal risk, delayed his roll-in until he had maneuvered his aircraft to the ideal position for an effective bomb run. This valiant effort enabled him to make a perfect dive and score direct hits which dropped one span of the bridge into the water. As a result of Captain Brady’s expertly-executed bomb run under extremely adverse and hazardous conditions, an important Hanoi-to-Vinh rail link was severed. His superb aeronautical skill, cool precision, and tenacious devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
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Awards Received
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Legion of Merit
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Silver Star
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CaptainDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
January 19, 1967 – March 4, 1973
Captain Allen Colby Brady (NSN: 0-542856/1310), United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from January 19, 1967 until his release on March 4, 1973.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CaptainDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
January – April 1969
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Captain Allen Colby Brady (NSN: 0-542856/1310), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from January to April 1969. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routine cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Distinguished Flying Cross
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Allen Colby Brady (NSN: 0-542856/1310), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during the period 15 April 1958 to 20 June 1958, as an effects test pilot with Task Group 7.4 in connection with Operation HARDTACK at Eniwetok Proving Grounds. Lieutenant Brady participated in six missions in an A/D type aircraft for the purpose of fathering data concerning the effects of nuclear blast, heat and radiation. This information is vital to the defense effort and is used to determine the atomic weapons delivery capability of this aircraft and to establish design criteria for future military aircraft. In order to obtain optimum results, Lieutenant Brady had to position his aircraft very accurately with respect to the atomic detonation. An error of only a few hundred feet in distance, or a few seconds in time, could have resulted in failure of the mission. If he had been too close to the detonation, he and the aircraft could easily have been destroyed; if too far away, the necessary data would not have been obtained. He was, however, consistently able to position his aircraft in exactly the right location at exactly the right time, thus assuring the success of the mission. Lieutenant Brady’s extraordinary flying skill, in the execution of a difficult and dangerous mission, reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Navy.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CaptainDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
January 1967 – March 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Captain Allen Colby Brady (NSN: 0-542856/1310), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from January 1967 to March 1973. By his diligent efforts, devotion and loyalty to the United States, and under the most adverse of conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States. While maintaining daily contact with the North Vietnamese guards and officers, he performed duties in staff positions resulting in the maintenance of good order and discipline among the prisoners. Further, as an educator he provided diversion and constructive rehabilitative thinking to his fellow prisoners during their long internment. Despite harsh treatment and a lack of material aids, he devoted long hours toward improving their morale and well-being. His extraordinary skill, resourcefulness, and sound judgment reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Captain Brady is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CaptainDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
January 19, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Allen Colby Brady (NSN: 0-542856/1310), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam on 19 January 1967. Captain Brady’s captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion, Captain Brady reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.