A True American Hero

Roger Shackelton · From: MINNESOTA (deceased)

A message sent to me from another Forumite.

ROGER

-----------------------------------------------------

Date: Monday, July 20, 2009

A Wonderful Story, but an eye opener! How sad that this has to be true!

Ed Freeman

You're a 19 year old kid.
You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley ,

11-14-1965, LZ X-ray , Vietnam. Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8 - 1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in.

You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out.
Your family is 1/2 way around the world, 12,000 miles away and you'll never see them again.
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.

Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter..!!
You look up to see an un-armed Huey!! But.... it doesn't seem real because no Medi-Vac markings are on it.
Ed Freeman is coming for you..!!
He's not Medi-Vac so it's not his job, but he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway. Even after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come.

He's coming anyway.
And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 2 or 3 of you on board.
Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the Doctors and Nurses.
And, he kept coming back...!! 13 more times..!!
He took about 30 of you and your buddies out who would never have gotten out.

Medal of Honor Recipient, Ed Freeman, died last Wednesday at the age of 80, in Boise, Idaho.
May God Rest His Soul.

I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing, but we've sure seen a whole bunch about some freakish white-gloved singer passing..!!

Medal of Honor Winner
Ed Freeman!

Shame on the American Media..!!

George Rozak · From: Braidwood, Illinois USA

Great post Roger...
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Fred Jack · From: Bastrop, Texas 78602

May God have mercy on Ed's soul. A REAL AMERICAN HERO!

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

RIP Ed Freeman. Above and beyond the call of duty. A true American hero. May GOD bless, comfort, and keep his family always. Jody.

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

I am a veteran, And if there is an Ed Freeman, then may God rest his soul. But in order to have been 80 years old in 2009, he would have had to have been born in 1929, rather than 1946, which would place him at at 19, in 1965. Do the math.
I can't say for sure, but I doubt that there are ANY 80-year old 'Nam vets.
So it makes for a good story, but it can't be true, using these numbers. This does a horrible disservice to The guys that DID die in the Nam, and to our country's vets.

Jude Reinhardt · From: Weaverville, NC

Ed Freeman, Medal of Honor Recipient
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Circulating via forwarded email, a tribute to Vietnam War hero and Medal of Honor recipient Ed Freeman, who died at the age of 80 in Boise, Idaho on August 20, 2008.

Description: Forwarded email
Circulating since: Sep. 2008
Status: True

Email example contributed by Dennis B., April 3, 2009:

Ed Freeman

You're an 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded , and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley , 11-14-1965, LZ X-ray, Vietnam . Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8 - 1, and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in.

You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns, and you know you're not getting out. Your family is 1/2 way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again. As the world starts to fade in and out , you know this is the day.

Then, over the machine gun noise, you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter, and you look up to see an un-armed Huey, but it doesn't seem real, because no Medi-Vac markings are on it.

Ed Freeman is coming for you. He's not Medi-Vac, so it's not his job, but he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire, after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come.

He's coming anyway.

And he drops it in, and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 2 or 3 of you on board.

Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire, to the Doctors and Nurses.

And, he kept coming back.... 13 more times.....

And took about 30 of you and your buddies out, who would never have gotten out.

Medal of Honor Recipient , Ed Freeman , died last Wednesday at the age of 80, in Boise , ID ......May God rest his soul.....

I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing, but we sure were told a whole bunch about some Hip-Hop Coward beating the crap out of his "girlfriend"

Medal of Honor Winner Ed Freeman!

Shame on the American Media

Comments: Judging from the closing sentences of the above message one could get the impression that the courageous life and quiet death of former Army Captain and Medal of Honor recipient Ed W. Freeman had been completely ignored by the media. Not so, as the partial list of news sources further down this page amply demonstrates.

Freeman passed away at the age of 80 on August 29, 2008 and was honored with obituaries in newspapers across the country.

In July 2001, some 36 years after the fact, Freeman, a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, had been awarded the nation's highest military honor for actions taken on November 14, 1965. The citation, presented by President Bush in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, read as follows:

Captain Ed W. Freeman, United States Army, distinguished himself by numerous acts of conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary intrepidity on 14 November, 1965, while serving with Company A, 229th, Assault Helicopter Battalion, First Cavalry Division Air Mobil (ph).

As a flight leader and second in command of a 16-helicopter lift unit, he supported a heavily engaged American infantry battalion at landing zone X-ray in the Idrang Valley, Republic of Vietnam. The infantry unit was almost out of ammunition, after taking some of the heaviest casualties of the war, fighting off a relentless attack from a highly motivated, heavily armed enemy force.

When the infantry commander closed the helicopter landing zone, due to intense direct enemy fire, Captain Freeman risked his own life by flying his unarmed helicopter through a gauntlet of enemy fire, time after time, delivering critically needed ammunition, water and medical supplies to the Paceeds (ph) battalion.

His flights had a direct impact on the battle's outcome by providing the engaged units with timely supplies of ammunition critical to their survival without which they would almost surely have experienced a much greater loss of life. After medical evacuation helicopters refused to fly into the area, due to intense enemy fire, Captain Freeman flew 14 separate rescue missions, providing life- saving evacuation of an estimates 30 seriously wounded soldiers, some of whom would not have survived, had he not acted.

All flights were made into a small emergency landing zone within 100 to 200 meters of the defensive perimeter where heavily committed units were perilously holding off the attacking elements. Captain Freeman's selfless acts of great valor, extraordinary perseverance and intrepidity were far above and beyond the call of duty or mission and set a superb example of leadership and courage for all of his peers.

Captain Freeman's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
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Skip Cole · From: North Mississippi

I believe the 19 year old mentioned in the commendation was a wounded soldier that Ed Freeman removed from the red zone. Thank GOD that Ed was there that day. May the families of all KIA / MIA be blessed through faith in GOD and may Ed rest with HIM. My prayers go out to all the men and women of the Armed Forces, who protect this country every day.
God bless you all,
Skip

Fred Shannon · From: Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.

Well, there are not many of us left but I know of several VN vets that are in their late 70's and early 80's, myself included. Ed Freeman was real and he was awarded the Medal of Honor and if the media glorified his passing, it didn't raise too many eyebrows in this area of the country.

Just another GI gone to meet his maker. BTW there are hundreds, maybe thousands like Ed Freeman who braved withering fire to save US fighting men in VN. To all those guys thanks, especially to one Charlie Burris, helicopter dust off pilot, who gave his all in that God forsaken place.

phred
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Bill Duncan · From: Lenoir, North Carolina, USA

I am not an emotional person, but this made my eyes sweat!

We owe these folks everything we have. Without them our country would be lost.
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b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

In March of 2009, the United States Congress bestowed one more honor to Major Freeman. They designated the US Post Office in his place of birth McLain, Mississippi, the "Major Ed W. Freeman Post Office."

Rest in peace, Major Freeman, and thank you for your service to our country.
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b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/freeman.asp

David Wright · From: Pilot Point ,Tx USA.

I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing, but we've sure seen a whole bunch about some freakish white-gloved singer passing..!!

I total agree.......and I best stop there...R.I.P. Major Freeman..

Morgan Scoggins · From: Georgia, USA

Sadly we are losing so many of our Vets every day. I think the number of WW2 vets that die each day is now about 1200.
We are losing some of the greatest Americans and being left with leaders who have never served their country except to belly up to the public trough or stick their hands in someones pocket for their graft.
That is why this country is going to hell in a handbasket.
I am so sorry about Mr Freeman. I did not know him, but I have been upset all day long over the loss of such a great man.
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Robbie Bossert · From: WESCOSVILLE,PA,U.S.A.

A true hero...Great post....RIP

Robbie Bossert

Frank Speights · From: Jackson, Ga USA

I agree, we lost a true American Hero. I am a member of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation in Hampton, Ga. We have a Huey at our Ozark, Alabama Chapter that was assigned to Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. I know someone who was with LTC Moore and the 7th Cav in the Ia Drang Valley. He said it was hell on earth, but thank God for pilots like Ed Freeman. Ed got the call to fly west, which is something we will all have to do someday

Jim Simon · From: Moses Lake, WA

Roger: Thank you for keeping this great hero, Maj Ed Freeman, and his selfless deeds fresh in our minds. I landed in country in March of 1966. During my tour of duty in Vietnam I heard many stories and accounts of situations not unlike Maj Freemans. As far as I am concerned all who served and took the fight to the enemy are heros. I had the priviledge of being in the same room with a Metal Of Honor winner at the Marine's Memorial Hall in San Francisco years back. A very emotional proud moment. I may not be as good as I once was but would gladly fight our country's fight with men like David and Phred standing shoulder to shoulder. Thanks again for reminding us why we have the priviledge of living as we do. God Bless Ed Freeman and all those who stood in the mud and blood of those jungles.

Jimmie Misenheimer · From: Bloomington, Indiana - U. S. A.

He wouldn't be the first Army vet that this old "tin can" sailor gave a U.S. NAVY salute to, and after 40 years I can damn sure still remember how to do it! Thank you Sir -- GOD SPEED... Jimmie

John Floyd · From: R.I.P.

b0b wrote:

Rodney Garrison · From: Montague County , Texas (deceased)

Thank you for sharing this story.
May God Bless America.
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Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

this was a really great post
thanks for sharing it
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Bob Hickish · From: Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.

Ed Freeman was real - I worked at the same outfits
he did in the 70’s - to know him , you would never know
what he had done all the years before - a fun loving rotor wing
jockey -- RIP Ed .
Hick

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