... To Save a Life....

Kpt. Lehmann · 04-07-09, 08:18 PM

From an email I received today, that I couldn't keep to myself.

"You're an 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded, and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley, 11-14-1965, LZ X-ray, 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 in 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."

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki once said of Major Freeman, "It wasn't the helicopter that made the difference at Ia Drang, he said, "It was the intrepid pilot, then Capt. Ed Freeman, who refused to think of himself, who would not let his fellow soldiers down, and who repeatedly risked his life to save theirs."
May God rest his soul!

~SALUTE!~ sir. Rest in peace.

FIREWALL · 04-07-09, 09:10 PM

My eyes are full of tears while reading that.

GoldenRivet · 04-07-09, 09:12 PM

Torplexed · 04-07-09, 09:24 PM

I imagine there are still about 30 guys who shouldn't be alive today hoping to attend his funeral to give their final thanks. Salute!

Kpt. Lehmann · 04-07-09, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

I imagine there are still about 30 guys who shouldn't be alive today hoping to attend his funeral to give their final thanks. Salute!

...and all of their descendants I would imagine.

UnderseaLcpl · 04-07-09, 09:59 PM

The word hero is used far too lightly today. Men like him are the real heroes. I'll think of him when I raise the flag tommorrow.

NeonSamurai · 04-07-09, 10:05 PM

Max2147 · 04-08-09, 12:18 AM

Indeed, Freeman was a true hero.

His squadron mate Bruce Crandall also deserves a mention. He flew similar improvised medevac missions under heavy fire in the same battle.

Interestingly, neither man was awarded the Medal of Honor until quite recently (Freeman in 2001 and Crandall in 2007). Happily, both men were alive to receive their medals personally. While Freeman has sadly passed on since then, Crandall is still alive today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Freeman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Crandall

Dowly · 04-08-09, 02:55 AM

Alot of heroism went on in those few days in the LZ X-RAY. Salute to everyone who fought there.

baggygreen · 04-08-09, 03:08 AM

Nothing more to say than another truly good man gone to a well-deserved rest.

HunterICX · 04-08-09, 03:32 AM

True heroism indeed.
may he rest in peace

HunterICX

TarJak · 04-08-09, 03:42 AM

Vale Major Ed Freeman. May his memory continue.

Jimbuna · 04-08-09, 05:36 AM

~SALUTE!~

RIP Sir

Schroeder · 04-08-09, 06:11 AM

This is what I call heroism.

I'm sure he will be missed.

U-104 · 04-08-09, 06:41 AM

04-07-09, 08:18 PM	#1
Kpt. Lehmann GWX Project Director Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Republic of Texas Posts: 6,992 Downloads: 124 Uploads: 0	... To Save a Life.... From an email I received today, that I couldn't keep to myself. "You're an 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded, and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley, 11-14-1965, LZ X-ray, 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 in 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." Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki once said of Major Freeman, "It wasn't the helicopter that made the difference at Ia Drang, he said, "It was the intrepid pilot, then Capt. Ed Freeman, who refused to think of himself, who would not let his fellow soldiers down, and who repeatedly risked his life to save theirs." May God rest his soul! ~SALUTE!~ sir. Rest in peace. __________________ www.thegreywolves.com All you need is good men. - Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock

04-07-09, 09:10 PM	#2
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	My eyes are full of tears while reading that. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

04-07-09, 09:12 PM	#3
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	__________________

04-07-09, 09:24 PM	#4
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	I imagine there are still about 30 guys who shouldn't be alive today hoping to attend his funeral to give their final thanks. Salute! __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili--

04-07-09, 09:59 PM	#6
UnderseaLcpl Silent Hunter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Storming the beaches! Posts: 4,254 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The word hero is used far too lightly today. Men like him are the real heroes. I'll think of him when I raise the flag tommorrow. __________________ I stole this sig from Task Force

04-07-09, 10:05 PM	#7
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	__________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

04-08-09, 12:18 AM	#8
Max2147 Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 714 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Indeed, Freeman was a true hero. His squadron mate Bruce Crandall also deserves a mention. He flew similar improvised medevac missions under heavy fire in the same battle. Interestingly, neither man was awarded the Medal of Honor until quite recently (Freeman in 2001 and Crandall in 2007). Happily, both men were alive to receive their medals personally. While Freeman has sadly passed on since then, Crandall is still alive today. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Freeman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Crandall

04-08-09, 02:55 AM	#9
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Alot of heroism went on in those few days in the LZ X-RAY. Salute to everyone who fought there.

04-08-09, 03:08 AM	#10
baggygreen Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canberra, ACT, Down Under (really On Top) Posts: 1,880 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Nothing more to say than another truly good man gone to a well-deserved rest.

04-08-09, 03:32 AM	#11
HunterICX Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2006 Location: Malaga, España Posts: 10,750 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	True heroism indeed. may he rest in peace HunterICX __________________

04-08-09, 03:42 AM	#12
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Vale Major Ed Freeman. May his memory continue.

04-08-09, 05:36 AM	#13
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,461 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	~SALUTE!~ RIP Sir __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

04-08-09, 06:11 AM	#14
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	This is what I call heroism. I'm sure he will be missed. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

04-08-09, 06:41 AM	#15
U-104 Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: United States Posts: 797 Downloads: 187 Uploads: 0	__________________ My heart is steadfast, O God. I will sing and make music with all my soul. Ps. 108:1 Survival of the fittest does not explain arrival of the fittest. we live in a single spoken sentence.. "God said, let there be"