American War Heroes

[bomelia]

Somebody sent me one of those chain emails that was globbed onto a set of current events. It was out of order... but the story was familiar so I looked it up. And, in the spirit of the "Success Poster" thread (or whatever it was called) and most certainly in honor of the heroes we have overseas right now, I would like to post this first story. Other stories are welcome and encouraged. But, this is not a debate thread, please. If one of you gets this shut down, I will hire a witch doctor and start sticking pins in your likeness.

(from wikipedia)

Ed Freeman
November 20, 1927(1927-11-20) – August 20, 2008 (aged 80)

Nickname Too Tall
Place of birth Neely, Mississippi
Place of death Boise, Idaho
Place of burial Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, Boise, Idaho
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Rank Major
Unit 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Battles/wars World War II
Korean War
• Battle of Pork Chop Hill
Vietnam War
• Battle of Ia Drang
Awards Medal of Honor
Ed W. "Too Tall" Freeman (November 20, 1927 - August 20, 2008) was a United States Army helicopter pilot who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Battle of Ia Drang during the Vietnam War. During the battle, he flew through gunfire numerous times, bringing supplies to a trapped American battalion and flying dozens of wounded soldiers to safety. Freeman was a wingman for Major Bruce Crandall who also received the Medal of Honor for the same missions.

Biography
Freeman was born in Neely, Perry County, Mississippi, the sixth of nine children.[1] He grew up in nearby McLain[2] and graduated from Washington High School.[1] He served in World War II[2] and reached the rank of master sergeant by the time of the Korean War. Although he was in the Corps of Engineers, he fought as an infantry soldier in Korea. He participated in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill and received a battlefield commission. The commission made him eligible to become a pilot, a childhood dream of his. However, when he applied for pilot training he was told that, at six feet four inches, he was "too tall" for pilot duty. The phrase stuck, and he was known by the nickname of "Too Tall" for the rest of his career.[3]

In 1955, the height limit for pilots was raised and Freeman was accepted into flying school. He first flew airplanes before switching to helicopters. By the time he was sent to Vietnam in 1965, he was an experienced helicopter pilot and was placed second-in-command of his sixteen-craft unit.[3] He served as a captain in Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).[4]

On November 14, 1965, Freeman and his unit transported a battalion of American soldiers to the Ia Drang Valley. Later, after arriving back at base, they learned that the soldiers had come under intense fire and had taken heavy casualties. Enemy fire around the landing zones was so heavy that the medical evacuation helicopters refused to enter the area. Freeman and his commander, Major Bruce Crandall, volunteered to fly their unarmed, lightly armored helicopters in support of the embattled troops. Freeman made a total of fourteen trips to the battlefield, bringing in water and ammunition and taking out wounded soldiers.[3]

Freeman was sent home from Vietnam in 1966 and retired from the military the next year.[3] He settled in the Treasure Valley area of Idaho, his wife Barbara's home state,[2] and continued to work as a pilot. He used his helicopter to fight wildfires, perform animal censuses, and herd wild horses for the Department of the Interior[3] until his final retirement in 1991.[1]

Freeman's commanding officer nominated him for the Medal of Honor for his actions at Ia Drang, but not in time to meet a two-year deadline then in place.[3] He was instead awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.[1] The Medal of Honor nomination was disregarded until 1995, when the two-year deadline was removed. He was formally presented with the medal on July 16, 2001, by President George W. Bush.[3]

Freeman died on August 20, 2008 due to complications from Parkinson's disease.[1] He was buried in the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise.[2]

In the 2002 film We Were Soldiers, which depicted the Battle of Ia Drang, Freeman was portrayed by Mark McCracken.[1] The post office in Freeman's hometown of McLain, Mississippi, was renamed the "Major Ed W. Freeman Post Office" in March 2009.[2]


Medal of Honor citation

Army version of the Medal of HonorFreeman's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

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, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). 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 Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam. The 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 besieged 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 gone down, with 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 estimated 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.[4]

[SP01715]

As a former 1st Cav Trooper, I have nothing but respect for those who fought in the battel of Ia Drang (LZ X-Ray, LZ Albany). We had a display at
1st Cav HQ about the battle of Ia Drang and the soilders that recieved the MOH are memorialized on the wall as well. Good post.