Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 1 Line: 30

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Captain Paul Patrick Daley, born 1941 in Boston, Massachusetts, graduated Boston College (AB '63), commissioned an ensign after Navy Pre-Flight School in Pensacola 1964, received his Navy wings in 1965, and was assigned to VF-96, flying the F4-B Phantom II.

From 1965 to 1967, he flew 212 combat missions during two cruises aboard the USS Enterprise and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 16 Air Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal (Combat V), and the Vietnamese Air Gallantry Cross. His DFC citation reads:

"Lieutenant (jg) Daley was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while participating in aerial flight over North Vietnam on 4 February 1967. Lieutenant Daley, flying in the lead aircraft in a division of F4B's, was instrumental in an extremely successful flak suppression mission against the heavily defended and strategically important Thanh Hoa railroad yard adjacent to Thanh Hoa, North Vietnam. By his detailed prestrike planning, skillful navigation and exceptional weapons direction during the attack while under continuous intense enemy fire, Lieutenant Daley was instrumental in insuring the complete destruction of the most threatening anti-aircraft artillery and thereby contributed to the most successful attack on the primary target, and to the safe retirement of the entire strike force from the target area. Lieutenant Daley's exceptional skill, courage and heroism in the face of extreme personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

After teaching Naval history at Yale for two years and serving with COMSIXFLT aboard USS Little Rock, Captain Daley left active duty for graduate studies and graduated from Harvard Law School (JD '73) and Harvard Business School (MBA '73). He remained active in the Naval Reserves, earned his parachute wings at Fort Benning, selected for six commands, and retired as Captain in 1994.

Paul is a partner with Boston law firm of Hale and Dorr. He was named in each edition of The Best Lawyers in America, and was an inaugural Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. He has written numerous articles on commercial and bankruptcy law, was a Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Naval War College Foundation, and a Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. He is married to Dr. Barbara Sabin Daley and lives with their son Patrick in Waban, MA.