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What gives?
FREEMAN, ED W.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, First Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place and date: Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam, 14 November 1965 Born: 1928
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 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, First 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 underseige 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.
(Aloha, Ronnie!)
And then we have those other brave warriors - John Kerry, John Murtha, Max Cleland, etc. who got undeserved and phony medals for things they didn't do.
Quite a contrast. We know there are also many more brave men and women who performed heroic deeds that no one lived to tell about. God Bless them all.
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Ancient Serpent 6 bump!!
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NEVER FORGET
Army Aviator to be Awarded Medal of Honor
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1782228/posts
NEVER FORGET
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Heroic action. Better late than never!
What exactly is this BS with awarding medals and badges decades late?
A year and a half ago I finaly got (in the mail) a minor decoration from the Navy that I should have received in 1970 (my combat action ribbon). One of my buddies got his bronze star from the Army last summer (3 months before he died), he was an Cobra gunship pilot in 1967.
Are they clearing the books of long overdue stuff?
All I can think of is that some group of supply sargeants has been told to get off their duffs and give the guys what they've got coming.