Medal of Honor winner passes away. Media did not cover it so we will. Ed W. “Too Tall” Freeman (November 20, 1927 – August 20, 2008)
The media spent a lot of time covering a rapper that beat up his famous girlfriend (Chris Brown and Rihanna). We’ll cover a hero that saved lives.
Freeman’s official Medal of Honor citation reads:
CITATION: Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place and date: Landing Zone X-Ray, Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam, 14 November 1965. Born: 20 November 1927, Neely, Mississippi. Entered Service At: Hattiesburg, Mississippi Citation: 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 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 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 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 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 Freemans 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 Freemans 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.
I think this is one story that is worth everyone passing along to their family and friends.
Steve Maley
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
good story
thetexan (Diary) Friday, April 3rd at 11:28AM EST (link)Great article.
SALUTE
daconia (Diary) Friday, April 3rd at 11:33AM EST (link)I am honored to salute you, Captain Freeman.
Thank the Lord
itrytobenice (Diary) Friday, April 3rd at 11:43AM EST (link)for real heroes. I’m grateful for Capt. Freeman and others like him.
Proper grammar saves lives.
Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.
Thanks for the article
panthera (Diary) Friday, April 3rd at 11:56AM EST (link)Enjoyed it!
Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.
Enjoyed it!
scoffee2002 Friday, April 3rd at 12:02PM EST (link)I think this is one story that is worth everyone passing along to their family and friends.
Thank you for honoring the finest. Recommended.
icbm (Diary) Friday, April 3rd at 12:30PM EST (link)n/t
I looked
thetexan (Diary) Friday, April 3rd at 2:45PM EST (link)I really coudn’t find any other stories about him from the MSM
God Rest His Soul.....
rcov092 (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 3:13AM EST (link)may we all be grateful for his service. I recently met a survivor of the La Drang battle and I was just today reading Ed’s story. His actions no doubt saved more lives than can be officially known.
Many men who fought that brave battle owe Ed their lives for his bravery. I was reading about Ed; Medal of Honor today by co-incidence. The battle of LA Drang was memorialized in the movie: “We Were Soldiers Once And Young” which was produced by Mel Gibson. It is an amazing film.
You should take the time to rent it and watch the story of the 400 plus brave Americans that entered hell that day. Unfortunately for the Vietcong, more than 3,000 of them would enter hell at the hands of the United States Army over the next 3 days. It is a story worth watching.
“Not One Red Dime for the NRSC or NRCC till they stop trying to elect liberals”
Join the RedState Strike Force
God Rest Captain Freeman
Kenny Solomon (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 7:13AM EST (link)An Old Soldier’s Prayer
by Lewis Millett
I have fought when others feared to serve.
I have gone where others failed to go.
I’ve lost friends in war and strife,
Who valued Duty more than love of life.
I have shared the comradeship of pain.
I have searched the lands for men that we have lost.
I have sons who served this land of liberty,
Who would fight to see that other stricken lands are free.
I have seen the weak forsake humanity.
I have heard the traitors praise our enemy.
I’ve seen challenged men become even bolder,
I’ve seen the Duty, Honor, Sacrifice of the Soldier.
Now I understand the meaning of our lives,
The loss of comrades not so very long ago.
So to you who have answered duties siren call,
May God bless you my son, may God bless you all.
Kenny, perfect poem in tribute to this man.
penguin2 (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 12:09PM EST (link)It brought tears to my eyes. I believe he rests with God.
Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. – Benjamin Franklin
When Good stands up to Evil, Evil blinks. – Vassar Bushmills
Conservative Education: Suggested Reading List
Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots
Same here, Penguin..... Blew me away.
Kenny Solomon (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 12:28PM EST (link)When my Dad’s time comes (and I pray that’s not for a LONG time), I hope to somehow hold it together enough to read this to those attending.
My Dad served in WWII (Europe – Army – 63rd Engineers).
I think Lew Millet is also a MOH winner.
Yahuti (Diary) Monday, April 6th at 5:27PM EST (link)Flaming red cavalry mustache and hair, stripped to the waist, standing in freezing water in the middle of a deep swift-running creek in February 1961 at Ft. Campbell, KY exhorting we fledgling RECONDOs from the 101st Airborne Division to follow him across.
It was the second RECONDO class – ever. Millet was a major and commandant of the school. He was like that, always like that yelling: “C’mon, c’mon, c’mon you buncha flat-peters.’; He was legendary in my Army.
Millet (if this is the same man) was a major then and had won the MOH in Korea.
I am fairly sure he is the same man. Can anyone confirm or deny?
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to ‘The United States of America’ for an amount of ‘up to and including my life.’ That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.
De Opresso Liber
A loss to us all
Hooah_Mac (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 3:13PM EST (link)No matter the age or circumstance, when a man of this caliber passes on, we are a little lesser for the loss.
The Medal of Honor is such a special award. No one who has ever received it was trying to get it, none of the recipients ever believe they deserve it, and very few survive the circumstances that merit it.
You need to understand how special this award is – it requires going way above and beyond in a profession where putting your life on the line is the minimum expectation; an amazing feat.
Pity on a media that doesn’t honor this man, and pity on a country that doesn’t demand that honor.
I render a salute to Captain Freeman. Godspeed Sir.
-Priorities-
1. Mission 2. Soldiers 3. Everything Else
Thank you.
liandro (Diary) Saturday, April 4th at 10:24PM EST (link)It is too easy to forget, and so important to remember.
Were it not for MEN like Ed
Deskpilot (Diary) Sunday, April 5th at 6:18AM EST (link)we would not now be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor, gather around, either by a handshake or an electron.
It is through Ed’s sacrifice so early in his life, that we now are able to recognize and take action to prevent tyrrany from within.
We who gather here, know honor, and respect our men and women who have before us, and now in our time, serve our great nation in the of Duty, Honor, Country.
Should this country be turned so hard as to loose the faith our our military, we shall surely suffer great pains yet unnamed.
Whe Carter gutted our country and her great military, no all that long after Vietnam ended, he even gave is a name, “MALAISE.” What shell we call tomorrow if we cannot stop the heavy hand of our own government again?
Let us learn a lesson for Ed’s life, and more importantly, in his passing.
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can still read it in English, You’re Welcome
Deskpilot, AM(H)1 (AW), USN (Ret)
Join the RedState Strike Force
I wrote a diary here on
Wayne (Diary) Sunday, April 5th at 11:15AM EST (link)August 22 of last year about the passing of Ed Freeman. The AP posted a short story of Ed’s passing and the Medal Of Honor he received, but you may have missed it. The AP’s column on Ed’s story was just that, one column, I think 5 paragraphs. On the same day, overshadowing the story of a true hero, the AP published 3 columns, and a picture, of that great American, Gene Upshaw. That’s right, a football player and union head of the NFLPA.
So, it is little wonder that many never saw, nor heard of the passing of Ed Freeman. I’m sure many local papers chose not to even run it, who ever heard of a Medal Of Honor recipient, he wasn’t a football player, after all.
“Hell, these are Marines. Men like them held Guadalcanal, and took Iwo Jima, Baghdad ain’t s–t”. Maj. Gen. John F. Kelly, USMC, Deputy CG, First MEF