Paulyski 2,227 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Courage. You're a 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam . It's November 11, 1967. LZ (landing zone) X-ray. Your unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense from 100 yards away, that your CO (commanding officer) has ordered the MedEvac 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 half 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 a Huey coming in. But.. It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it. Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you. He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway. Even after the MedEvacs 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 3 of you at a time on board. Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety. And, he kept coming back!! 13 more times!! Until all the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm. He took 29 of you and your buddies out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey. Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman, United States Air Force, died last Wednesday at the age of 70, in Boise , Idaho May God Bless and Rest His Soul. I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing, but we've sure seen a whole bunch about Lindsay Lohan, Tiger Woods and the bickering of congress over Health Reform. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ktcm7271 999 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Thanks for the news, Paulsky. Was he the guy they based the huey pilot in (We were Soldiers) on? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bvamp 604 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 God Bless his soul. posting the following bit due to status. " 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 " About dot com link to the man 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DogMan 2,343 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 The word hero is spread so thin nowadays it's easy to forget what a true hero is. Man, this guy was the real deal. RIP. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Desolo 55 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 the most interesting people are sometimes those you never hear about... I bet he would have been somone interesting to talk to 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Saiga_rom 91 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Courage. You're a 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam . It's November 11, 1967. LZ (landing zone) X-ray. Your unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense from 100 yards away, that your CO (commanding officer) has ordered the MedEvac 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 half 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 a Huey coming in. But.. It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it. Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you. He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway. Even after the MedEvacs 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 3 of you at a time on board. Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety. And, he kept coming back!! 13 more times!! Until all the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm. He took 29 of you and your buddies out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey. Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman, United States Air Force, died last Wednesday at the age of 70, in Boise , Idaho May God Bless and Rest His Soul. I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing, but we've sure seen a whole bunch about Lindsay Lohan, Tiger Woods and the bickering of congress over Health Reform. that is an incredibly sobering story, which honestly almost brought a tear to my eye. rest in peace to a true american hero 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulyski 2,227 Posted February 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Thanks for the news, Paulsky. Was he the guy they based the huey pilot in (We were Soldiers) on? not sure. I'm not one to forward chain e-mails, but for this man, I'll make an exception. Pops sent it to me today. These are the men we should be taught about in school & have as role models. Not basketball players who are so stupid that they wrap their weed in aluminum foil before going through the metal detectors at the airport. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DogMan 2,343 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Thanks for the news, Paulsky. Was he the guy they based the huey pilot in (We were Soldiers) on? That was him. I just read his bio on wikipedia. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
psl sniper 963 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 that was great. its a sad day indeed, when the passing of a true hero gets looked over by the crap that is considered news these days. imagine being one of those poor soldiers, you know youre fucked. theirs no hope of evac, youve been expended so to speak. then out of the blue salvation. to realize that everyday after that you literly owe your very existence to that man. its very sobering and powerful. thank you pauly for this story. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
psl sniper 963 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Thanks for the news, Paulsky. Was he the guy they based the huey pilot in (We were Soldiers) on? not sure. I'm not one to forward chain e-mails, but for this man, I'll make an exception. Pops sent it to me today. These are the men we should be taught about in school & have as role models. Not basketball players who are so stupid that they wrap their weed in aluminum foil before going through the metal detectors at the airport. too many people have forgotten what honor and sacrifice mean. if it doesnt make them $ they have no use for it. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dad2142Dad 6,559 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Repeats for MOH awards are always OK / mandatory in my book. If ya go to the MOH site they celebrate each individual, one per month. A great read..... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
captainchemical 11 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 God speed Captain. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrThunder88 912 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 He was the real deal. Not to sell short the heroism of others in that war and all wars before and since, but he truly deserved the nation's highest honor. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Azrial 1,091 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 The Presidential citation that he received from George W. Bush read as follows: Capitan 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. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MT Predator 2,294 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 RIP Sir. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
locolobo1234 4 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 This is the stuff of Legends! I'm honored and humbled to know that such men are my fellow countrymen. Thou my simple words of graditude are small compared to actions of this man. I hope that all American's remenber the Courage and Honor of this Great Hero. God bless you Sir, and may God watch over your family, in their time of sorrow. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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