Thank you Ed Freeman fly free now.

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Quigley_Sharps, Feb 15, 2009.


  1. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    <TABLE class=MsoNormalTable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 0in" vAlign=top>You're an 18 or 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded, and
    dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley, 11-14-1965, LZ Xray,
    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 i n 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.....

    (Oh yeah, Paul Newman died that day too. I guess you knew that
    -- He got a lot more press than Ed Freeman.)



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  2. ozarkgoatman

    ozarkgoatman Resident goat herder

    Pretty sad ain't it. [angelsad]

    OGM
     
  3. dragonfly

    dragonfly Monkey+++

    What an Awesome man he was....Can't compare that with any actor, even though I really did like Paul Newman!
     
  4. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    How can anyone possibly compare something as paltry as tremendous bravery and dedication to good salad dressing?
     
  5. RouteClearance

    RouteClearance Monkey+++

    This is just another good reason that I now have to do my best to not feed the Hollywood "entertainment" machine, If I want to watch a movie or listen to music cd's, I refuse to buy, rent, or even illegally download them. I simply go to my local "Public Library", find what I want, check them out just like you check out a book. Total cost is $0.00.

    I am suprised that the RIAA or MPA hasn't been raising h%#l over this practice, just think how much revenue they are losing because of our local library.
     
  6. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Take it easy, Freeman.
     
  7. Clyde

    Clyde Jet Set Tourer Administrator Founding Member

  8. jim2

    jim2 Monkey+++

    Now THAT was a real man!
     
  9. Conagher

    Conagher Dark Custom Rider Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    RIP Ed Freeman.......you were a true man of honor.....[flag]
     
  10. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    You gotta know he got a rousing welcome from a bunch of guys lined up, when that chopper lands on Heaven's helipad!
    Bravo, Ed!
     
  11. enough

    enough Monkey++

    The actual Citation, taken from the link above:

    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.
     
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