Joe Galloway: Farewell to an American Hero

Michael Yon Online ^ | 8/21/08 | Joe Galloway

[Dawnsblood]

For the better part of 60 years, two old Army pilots who loved each other argued over many a meal and drink as to which of them was the second best pilot in the world.

The two shared the cockpits of old Beaver prop planes and Huey helicopters; they shared rooms in military hooches all over the world; they shared a love of practical and impractical jokes and they shared an undying love of flying and soldiers and the Army.

They also shared membership in a very small and revered fraternity of fewer than 105 men who are entitled to wear around their necks the light blue ribbon and gold pointed star that is the Medal of Honor, America’s highest decoration for heroism above and beyond the call of duty.

Their story was told in a book my buddy Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and I wrote 15 years ago titled "We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young" and in the Mel Gibson movie, "We Were Soldiers," released in the spring of 2002. Too Tall and Old Snake were ably portrayed in the movie.

Their argument over which of them is the Best Pilot in the Whole World sadly came to an end this week when our friend and comrade-in-arms Maj. Ed (Too Tall to Fly) Freeman slipped the surly bonds of earth and headed off to Fiddler’s Green, where the souls of departed cavalrymen gather by dispensation of God Himself.

[Domandred]

Related thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2065130/posts

[Lurker]

God Speed Major.

There are a lot of Americans alive today because of your valiant efforts.

L

[rrrod]

Absolutely great!

[Stonewall Jackson]

Halfway down the trail to Hell,
In a shady meadow green
Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped,
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

Marching past, straight through to Hell
The Infantry are seen.
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marines,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddlers' Green.

Though some go curving down the trail
To seek a warmer scene.
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he's emptied his canteen.
And so rides back to drink again
With friends at Fiddlers' Green.

And so when man and horse go down
Beneath a saber keen,
Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee
You stop a bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And put your pistol to your head
And go to Fiddlers' Green.

Rest in peace, Too Tall, and thank you for your gallant service to our nation.

[rahbert]

fmr 11 ACR dittos to that!

[djsherin]

NOOOO

I loved this story and movie. It was extremely powerful and the fact that it happened and they survived against such odds makes it all the more fascinating.

Prayers.

[JoeSixPack1]

God Blessed us with Joe Galloway.

For you Joe, ‘GarryOwen’

http://www.us7thcavalry.com/legend.htm

[kevinm13]

Men like Ed Too Tall Freeman are too short in supply but too tall in patriotism. God Speed Major!

[imahawk]

God speed Major indeed.

[Stonewall Jackson]

As the son, grandson, great-grandson, and great-great-grandson of cavalrymen (1st Cav Division, 14th ACR, 1st Cavalry Regiment, McCord’s Texas Cavalry-CSA), I learned about this poem and many others at an early age.

[xJones]

What a proud heritage you have!

[Islander7]

FREEMAN ED W.

Citation:

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Alpha Company, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).

Place and date: Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam, 14 November 1965. Entered service at: Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Born 20 Nov. 1927, Neely, Greene County, Mississippi.

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 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.

_________________

Mississippi Ping!

[Islander7]

God Speed Sir!

You made us proud!

[RWB Patriot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8MFI0tDDnw

Rest in Peace, Too Tall.

[Cacique]

btt

[smokingfrog]

[eyedigress]

That picture could easily garner ten thousand words. RIP Maj. Freeman

[AprilfromTexas]

Rest in Peace and thanks so much for your service to our country, Too Tall.

The movie was fantastic, my favorite scene was ‘The Lake’ in the deleted scenes on the DVD.

[djsherin]

HAHAHA I love that scene! The naked Sergeant walking up to the young lieutenant with the medal of honor. Great.

“And he was scared sh!tless of Plumley”

[LibLieSlayer]

May GOD keep such an American Hero and Patriot. He is a shining example of America at its best. Rest easy Major!

LLS

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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The Real Sgt/Major PLUMLEY =

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set3.htm
(See 1st Photo)

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[ALOHA RONNIE]

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NEVER FORGET

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Where ED ‘Too Tall’ FREEMAN flew in Vietnam, exactly:

(Photos)
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set1.htm
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set2.htm
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set3.htm

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NEVER FORGET

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[Islander7]

Thanks AR and Thanks for your honorable service.

[AprilfromTexas]

Cool. Thanks for posting, I’ll keep this link for future perusing. And thank you for your service to our country. What you guys did was important.

[NonValueAdded]

A wonderful story and I’m happy to give Michael Yon the clicks on his Website.

[AprilfromTexas]

Yeah, that guy was a warrior, and I think his greatest achievement/award was the accumulation of battle scars.

I only found out recently that when wearing the Medal of Honor others of rank have to salute a NCO, probably why he didn’t put it on when the LT first told them to...makes that scene even more poignant.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

God Bless you and your family.

[SuziQ]

In a fine display of the sort of gallows humor that's always helped men who know the horrors of war keep some of their sanity, Bruce told Ed that he intended to settle the question once and for all by borrowing a helicopter, sling-loading Ed’s coffin below it and then lowering it into the grave where Too Tall will rest _ something that only the Best Pilot in the World could do. Something that only the best friend in the world could tell a dying man.

LOL! Woulda been awesome!

[SuziQ]

Entered service at: Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Born 20 Nov. 1927, Neely, Greene County, Mississippi.

Cool! A Mississippi boy, from around Beaumont! Must have gone through Camp Shelby, hence the service entry in Hattiesburg, my hometown!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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NEVER FORGET

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They are still soldiers

http://www.ArmchairGeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66978

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Just for the LOVE of it..!!

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NEVER FORGET

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[Nam Vet]

God bless him.

Nam Vet

[rahbert]

... and all the other dustoff pilots.

Bravest of the brave.

[SuziQ]

My cousin Harvey was a SAR pilot in Vietnam, and did at least two, possibly three, tours of duty. He trained at Ft. Benning about the same time that the AirCav was training. Next time I see him, I'll ask him if he knew Col. Moore and Sgt. Plumley.

I'd always thought Harvey was a Recon Helicopter pilot in Vietnam, but my brother told me last year that he was SAR, and flew helicopters and some small spotter planes, like the one depicted in the movie BAT 21. That astounded me, because the life expectancy of those guys wasn't that great. I think I read a few years ago that several SAR pilots were killed in the attempt to rescue Col. Hambleton, the officer about whom BAT 21 was made.

My Mama said that Harvey was an officer in the Third Armored Division during Gulf War I, and retired at the rank of Brigadier General not too long after that. He was still on active dury when x42 was President, because Mama said he had to escort x42 and Her Heinous around Frankfurt, I think it was, where the Division was based. Harvey wasn't impressed. ;o)

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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Thank you very much for sharing with us your hero cousin HARVEY and his selfless expoits on behalf of the Freedom of others long ago, SuziQ.

Our Battle of IA DRANG-1965 Forward Air Controller, the man who called in “Broken Arrow” airstrikes on a surrounding NVA enemy in November-1965, was himself shot down on Christmas Eve 1965.

Lt. Col. CHARLIE W. HASTINGS’ O-1E spotter plane wreckage ended up on the side of a famed MANG YANG Pass Hill.

HASTINGS later went on to help run our 1975 air evacuation of Vietnam from an airbase in Thailand during the Fall of Saigon:

(See 4th Photo down of HASTINGS’ O-1E spotter plan wreckage on the side of a Mang Yang Pass Hill)

http://www.lzxray.com/misc_pages/lemp_collection4.html

(See 5th Photo down taken just a few miles east of the Mang Yang Pass on Christmas Day-1965)

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set2.htm

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