BRADY, ALLEN COLBY

Name: Allen Colby Brady
Rank/Branch: O5/United States Navy, pilot
Unit: VA 85
Date of Birth: 15 Augiust 1929
Home City of Record: Norfolk VA
Date of Loss: 19 January 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates:
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A6A
Missions: 17
Other Personnel in Incident: William Yarbrough, missing

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews.

REMARKS: 730304 RELEASED BY DRV

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME  copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO

ALLEN C. BRADY
Captain - United States Navy
Shot Down: January 19, 1967
Released: March 4, 1973
                                       
I was born August 15, 1929 in San Diego, California. As my father was a
Naval Officer and happened to be stationed there at the time, I can't really
claim to be a Californian, instead, I consider myself to be an "American at
large." I always wanted to go to Annapolis and then fly Navy and my dreams
were finally realized. As a 51'er from Annapolis, I received my wings in
June 1953 and started a wonderful and exciting career.

After marrying Louise in South Carolina in 1953 with Richard arriving in
1956 and Lisa in 1959, I served in squadrons of A-1 's, A4's and A-6's, both
east and west coasts. Other tours included Weapons Testing at Albuquerque,
New Mexico and Postgraduate School at Monterey, California. In fact,
everything was going great until that fateful day, 19 January 1967, when as
Executive Officer of Attack Squadron 85, off the Kitty Hawk, I was leading a
flight of A-6's against a bridge complex in North Vietnam. One minute I was
confidently roaring through the sky, and the next, I was standing in a rice
paddy wondering, "why me?"

And thus began a new phase of my life - one that was to test my sanity, my
faith in my country, family and my relationship to God. There were, of
course, moments when any faith faltered - at those times, I had to fall back
on my military training and the Code of Conduct which turned out to be a
great "crutch." However, it was obvious to me that the Communists were only
telling "their side" and that, coupled with the brutal and inhuman treatment
made me see what "their way" meant, and the word "freedom" took on a new and
deeper meaning.

How truly wonderful and remarkable our country seemed, in spite of its many
faults. My marriage has always been a strong one and this played no "small
part" in helping me keep the faith. Finally, although not a deeply religious
man, I found, in times of great stress, I called upon Him for strength, and
found it.

So what about the future? Since my return, I have found my family intact as
I had hoped, and from the many wonderful letters I have received from so
many people of ail walks of life, I have also found my country intact. I
believe in our country and our way of life. I plan to continue to serve my
country as long as I can contribute and I will walk through the remainder of
my life as a more understanding father, a more loving husband and, I hope, a
better citizen.

May 1998
Allen Brady retired from the United States Navy as a Captain in 1979. He and
his wife Dianne reside in Florida. Allen has a son and daughter, and one
grandson.