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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Headquarters, United States Army
Vietnam
APO San Francisco 96375
GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER
No. 46 |
26
October 1967
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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
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| Awarded: |
Distinguished Service Cross |
| Date of Action: |
5 February 1967 |
| Theater: |
Republic of Viet Nam |
| 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. |
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JOSEPH MARTIN BRADY 
