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. The 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. 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).Īs 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. RIP.įreeman's official Medal of Honor citation reads:Ĭaptain Ed W. It is worth remembering that in our breakneck, celebrity-laced world, that real people do great things.
Captain ed freeman movie#
His actions were depicted in the recent movie “We Were Soldiers.” He died last August and his death missed mention in mainstream media bailouts and elections were deemed more important. He received the Medal of Honor – late because his application missed the statute of limitations which was subsequently changed – for the bravery he showed. As pilot he saved the lives of soldiers in Vietnam who, without his selfless acts, would have certainly died. Many are referred to as such but few meet the exacting criteria.Įd Freeman was one such hero for many reasons. Then he flies you up and out, through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses.Īnd he kept coming back, 13 more times, and took about 30 of you and your buddies out, who would never have gotten out. 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.Īnd he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire as they load 2 or 3 of you on board. Then, over the machine gun noise, you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter and you look up to see an unarmed Huey, but it doesn't seem real because no Medi-Vac markings are on it.Įd Freeman is coming for you.
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day. Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away and you'll never see them again. You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns, and you know you're not getting out. 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 critically wounded and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley, 11-14-1965, LZ X-ray, Vietnam. He also flew as a civilian pilot with the National Interagency Fire Center, which is located in Boise.Ĭopyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company Interior Department and retired a second time in 1991. He was the sixth of nine children.Īfter his retirement from the Army, Freeman served as a pilot for the U.S. Freeman will be buried at the Idaho Veterans Cemetery in Boise.įreeman was born in Neely, Miss., in Perry County, in 1927 and was a graduate of Washington High School. Tim Marsano, with the Idaho National Guard, said funeral services have been scheduled for Saturday. "People could relate to him," Doug Freeman said. In a statement, Doug Freemen described his father, who lived in Idaho for the last 30 years, as a "humorous person with a lot of integrity." Bush awarded him the Congressional Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony in 2001.ĭuring the ceremony, Bush said Freeman initially won the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions, but his commanding officer and other witnesses believed he deserved an even higher honor. He also delivered water, ammunition and supplies.Īctor Mark McCracken portrayed Freeman in the 2002 film.įreeman was 73 years old when President George W. 14, 1965, during what was considered one of the fiercest battles of the Vietnam war.Īfter an Army battalion was surrounded by enemy forces, Freeman flew his unarmed helicopter through enemy fire to evacuate 30 seriously wounded soldiers and bring them to safety. The Mississippi native braved intense enemy fire in the Ia Drang Valley as he carried out rescue missions on Nov.
He was 80.ĭoug Freeman said his father died Wednesday in Boise from health complications due to Parkinson's Disease after spending several weeks undergoing treatment. Edward Freeman, a former Army helicopter pilot awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics during the Vietnam War and portrayed in the Mel Gibson movie "We Were Soldiers," has died.
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