IN MEMORIAM Cpt. Ed Freeman - I'd like to pass this on

suum cuique · 12-18-2011, 11:55 PM

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.

beachbaker · 12-19-2011, 12:24 AM

Actually Ed died in in 2008 at age 80. Curt

Ron Wood · 12-19-2011, 12:40 AM

If he was 80 years old when he died in 2008, he would have had to be around 40 years old in 1967. Kind of old for a Captain chopper pilot in Viet Nam in 1967, but I guess it's possible. I was a Captain in 1967 in Viet Nam. I was only 28 and a bit old for my rank (had some enlisted time).

I suspect he was closer to 70 than 80.

MikeP · 12-19-2011, 01:57 AM

This has gone in circles ever since 1st announced-no disrespect to Major Freeman.
He had an amazing career.
Born in 1927, enlisted late in WW2.
He was awarded a battlefield commission on Pork Chop Hill.
He went to flight school in 1955 when they lowered the height requirements.
The MOH action took place in 1965 and he was awarded a DSC, later upgraded to MOH.
Another flier was awarded the MOH for identical action the same day.
Major Freeman went on flying 20 years after retirement.

We don't mourn such men. We rejoice that such men lived.

Edward Tinker · 12-19-2011, 07:49 AM

The point is, that even when something sounds great, check on it via google when sent to you via email from friends or when you are about to forward or post.

Many 'facts' get changed, i get emails all the time about posting to the USA today pro/anti gun and the original on-line question of the day was from about five years ago.

suum cuique · 12-19-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

The point is, that even when something sounds great, check on it via google when sent to you via email from friends or when you are about to forward or post.

Many 'facts' get changed, i get emails all the time about posting to the USA today pro/anti gun and the original on-line question of the day was from about five years ago.

oops, got this from an (2010)Iraq vet this week...
Anyway, this gentleman earns my highest respect.

wlyon · 12-19-2011, 02:42 PM

I worked with Ed at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise ID. He was with the Office of Aircraft Services on the same base. Really a nice, very humble man, A true hero. As seems to be true of all real heros he never talked about it. Bill

Edward Tinker · 12-19-2011, 05:41 PM

Andy, meant no disrespect to either you or this hero

Ed

12-18-2011, 11:55 PM	#1
suum cuique User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MD / Currently about 9000 klicks east of the Potomac Posts: 497 Thanks: 108 Thanked 47 Times in 35 Posts	IN MEMORIAM Cpt. Ed Freeman - I'd like to pass this on 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. Attached Images __________________ Regards, Andy There's No Place Like Home (Wizard Of Oz)

12-19-2011, 12:24 AM	#2
beachbaker Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: california Posts: 137 Thanks: 31 Thanked 109 Times in 30 Posts	Actually Ed died in in 2008 at age 80. Curt __________________ Curt

12-19-2011, 12:40 AM	#3
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,035 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,242 Times in 1,719 Posts	If he was 80 years old when he died in 2008, he would have had to be around 40 years old in 1967. Kind of old for a Captain chopper pilot in Viet Nam in 1967, but I guess it's possible. I was a Captain in 1967 in Viet Nam. I was only 28 and a bit old for my rank (had some enlisted time). I suspect he was closer to 70 than 80. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

12-19-2011, 02:42 PM	#7
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,652 Thanks: 3,210 Thanked 2,613 Times in 969 Posts	I worked with Ed at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise ID. He was with the Office of Aircraft Services on the same base. Really a nice, very humble man, A true hero. As seems to be true of all real heros he never talked about it. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

12-19-2011, 01:57 AM	#4
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	This has gone in circles ever since 1st announced-no disrespect to Major Freeman. He had an amazing career. Born in 1927, enlisted late in WW2. He was awarded a battlefield commission on Pork Chop Hill. He went to flight school in 1955 when they lowered the height requirements. The MOH action took place in 1965 and he was awarded a DSC, later upgraded to MOH. Another flier was awarded the MOH for identical action the same day. Major Freeman went on flying 20 years after retirement. We don't mourn such men. We rejoice that such men lived.

12-19-2011, 07:49 AM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,960 Thanks: 2,062 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	The point is, that even when something sounds great, check on it via google when sent to you via email from friends or when you are about to forward or post. Many 'facts' get changed, i get emails all the time about posting to the USA today pro/anti gun and the original on-line question of the day was from about five years ago.

12-19-2011, 05:41 PM	#8
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,960 Thanks: 2,062 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	Andy, meant no disrespect to either you or this hero Ed