Shame on the American media

[Lightning Mate]

You're a 19 year old kid.You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Vietnam .It's November 11, 1967.Landing zone X-ray.

Your unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 yards away, that your CO 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 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 MediVac markings are on it.
Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you.He's not MediVac 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 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 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 Army, died last Wednesday at the age of 70, in Boise , Idaho.

May God Rest His Soul.

I bet you didn't hear about this heros' passing, but we've sure seen a whole lot about Michael Jackson and Tiger Woods.

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/CaptEdFreeman.jpg

[coorong]

Exceptional

[charliegolf]

70's not a great allotment for such a brave man, unfairly short, you might think. But it's not the age it's the mileage, Indiana jones said, and i bet this fella had 2 lives worth on the clock before closing time.

Rest in Peace.

CG

[West Coast]

Very humbled.

[Lightning Mate]

West Coast,

Maybe the rescued guys were also USMC.

[Ewan Whosearmy]

Whilst I appreciate the sentiment, Ed Freeman died almost two years ago (August 2008), he was 80, not 70, and he retired as a Major, not a Captain.

With fact checking like that, you could get a job writing for ALPA.

[Brian Abraham]

The thread ran here not long after his actual passing. No harm in the resurrection and remembering real heros though.

http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/340949-we-were-soldiers-once-young-ed-too-tall-fly-freeman-medal-honor.html

[Lightning Mate]

The thread ran here not long after his actual passing



With fact checking like that, you could get a job writing for ALPA

Sorry EW and BA.

I'm such a dumbass I didn't notice. :\

[Diesel Fitter]

The thread ran here not long after his actual passing. No harm in the resurrection and remembering real heros though.


Agreed.

Too bad though about those with a chip on their shoulder about the media to abuse the memory of a brave soldier to unjustly bash them.

Sources and further reading:

Congress Names Post Office for Valley Medal of Honor Recipient
Idaho Press-Tribune, 18 March 2009

Medal of Honor Veteran Dies in Idaho
Associated Press, 20 August 2008

A 'Best Pilot' Takes His Last Flight
Sunday Gazette-Mail, 24 August 2008

Boise Medal of Honor Recipient Passes Away
KTVB-TV News, 20 August 2008

Medal of Honor Recipient Ed Freeman, 80, Dies
NBC Nightly News, 21 August 2008

Flags Flown at Half-Mast for Freeman
Mountain Home News, 22 August 2008

Medal of Honor Recipient Ed Freeman Dies
KBCI-TV News, 20 August 2008

Bush Presents Congressional Medal of Honor to Ed Freeman
CNN transcript, 16 July 2001

Recognition for One of America's Best
Anniston Star, 17 Feburary 2007

Medal of Honor - History
U.S. Army website

[barnstormer1968]

LM.
Thanks for posting this.
You may have made some factual errors, but I think I know where you were coming from, and I stand with that point of view:ok:

When the original thread was aired, I had not heard of this man, and was stunned at his bravery and courage in the endeavour to help his fellow man.

While there may be a fair amount of 'cousin' bashing on this site, and also Brit bashing from the other side of the pond, I am glad we often choose to stand shoulder to shoulder when it really matters. It is good to hear of men like this, or Roy P Benavidez for example, to bring us back to reality and away from stereotypical trailer park stuff.

[Trim Stab]

Full respect to him.

But :-


Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you.He's not MediVac 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 Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come.He's coming anyway.



Could something like that happen now? Or would the consequences be too severe?

[TheWizard]

Full respect to him.

But :-



Could something like that happen now? Or would the consequences be too severe?


Although not on a similar scale (but equally as heroic) was the recovery of Cpl Matthew Ford from the Jugroom Fort battle by the Apache crews in Afghanistan.
They were definitely not medivac aircraft!!

[Trim Stab]

Although not on a similar scale (but equally as heroic) was the recovery of Cpl Matthew Ford from the Jugroom Fort battle by the Apache crews in Afghanistan.
They were definitely not medivac aircraft!!


But didn't they first get a clearance from up the chain of command?

I meant attempting a rescue in contravention of orders.

[Ali Barber]

From reading the Apache book, they were initially hauled in for a bo!!ocking before common sense prevailed and they went to the Palace for their medals!

[FalconFlyr]

...I was passing a bit of time in the National Aerospace Museum at Dulles last week and was passing a monitor which had shots of a Huey landing. I stopped to watch and it was a series of films about Medal of Honour winners - and this one was of him telling the story.

It would appear that he did get permission, more than that in fact - they had been pulled out for an hour or two because of the heavy fire but then his boss came in to ask for volunteers to pick up wounded.

Out of all the aircraft commanders only he stepped forward, and he and his crew flew till dark until they were told to stop.

[Wiley]

I know I've suggested it before, but to repeat myself, 'We Were Soldiers Once... and Young", where Ed Freeman's actions that day are described in detail, is an excellent read.

The Huey main rotor has a 48' diameter. At one stage during his rescues that day, there were NVA within Freeman's rotor disc shooting up at him as he came to the hover! Anyone who's flown a dustoff in a Huey - in far, far less exciting circumstances that that - will understand that what he did that day was extraordinary, both in the flying skill displayed and in sheer bravery.

[Bushfiva]

Original poster is simply regurgitating a bogus email. Snopes has the details. I would imagine original poster wasn't aware of Ed Freeman, his citation or death until receiving the email.

[SASless]

Folks,

Say what you want to about the poster, the e-mail, snopes, and everything else....but do not think anything you say or think will diminish the events that took place at LZ X-Ray during the first day or the following days. Freeman and others performed with great courage and determination in combat with the North Vietnamese Army Regulars. The ground troops were greatly outnumbered, surrounded, and very close to being over run.

I visited my old alma mater, the US Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, just two days ago. During my visit I took a walk down the Army Aviation Hall of Fame and looked at the photographs and citations of those who have been inducted. There were a great number of senior officers and others who got there by right of peace time accomplishments and another group who got there by performing extraordinary feats of bravery including Freeman, Benevidez, Wetzel, and others.

I consider it an honor to have been allowed to serve with men such as these, the ones who risked their lives and in some cases died while performing those deeds.

Young men and women from both the US, UK, Australian, and Canadian forces along with NATO allies are continuing to live up to the example set by those that went before them, and are at the same time passing that along to others that shall surely follow them in the future.

Can you not simply accept that Brave Men do things that are worthy of respect and let it go at that?

Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Major Bruce P. Crandall distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as a Flight Commander in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). On 14 November 1965, his flight of sixteen helicopters was lifting troops for a search and destroy mission from Plei Me, Vietnam, to Landing Zone X-Ray in the la Drang Valley. On the fourth troop lift, the airlift began to take enemy fire, and by the time the aircraft had refueled and returned for the next troop lift, the enemy had Landing Zone X-Ray targeted. As Major Crandall and the first eight helicopters landed to discharge troops on his fifth troop lift, his unarmed helicopter came under such intense enemy fire that the ground commander ordered the second flight of eight aircraft to abort their mission. As Major Crandall flew back to Plei Me, his base of operations, he determined that the ground commander of the besieged infantry batallion desperately needed more ammunition. Major Crandall then decided to adjust his base of operations to Artillery Firebase Falcon in order to shorten the flight distance to deliver ammunition and evacuate wounded soldiers. While medical evacuation was not his mission, he immediately sought volunteers and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, led the two aircraft to Landing Zone X-Ray. Despite the fact that the landing zone was still under relentless enemy fire, Major Crandall landed and proceeded to supervise the loading of seriously wounded soldiers aboard his aircraft. Major Crandall's voluntary decision to land under the most extreme fire instilled in the other pilots the will and spirit to continue to land their own aircraft, and in the ground forces the realization that they would be resupplied and that friendly wounded would be promptly evacuated. This greatly enhanced morale and the will to fight at a critical time. After his first medical evacuation, Major Crandall continued to fly into and out of the landing zone throughout the day and into the evening. That day he completed a total of 22 flights, most under intense enemy fire, retiring from the battlefield only after all possible service had been rendered to the Infantry battalion. His actions provided critical resupply of ammunition and evacuation of the wounded. Major Crandall's daring acts of bravery and courage in the face of an overwhelming and determined enemy are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.


WETZEL, GARY GEORGE

Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class (then Pfc.), U.S. Army, 173d Assault Helicopter Company. Place and date: Near Ap Dong An, Republic of Vietnam, 8 January 1968. Entered service at: Milwaukee, Wis. Born: 29 September 1947, South Milwaukee, Wis.

Citation:
Sp4c. Wetzel, 173d Assault Helicopter Company, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life. above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Wetzel was serving as door gunner aboard a helicopter which was part of an insertion force trapped in a landing zone by intense and deadly hostile fire. Sp4c. Wetzel was going to the aid of his aircraft commander when he was blown into a rice paddy and critically wounded by 2 enemy rockets that exploded just inches from his location. Although bleeding profusely due to the loss of his left arm and severe wounds in his right arm, chest, and left leg, Sp4c. Wetzel staggered back to his original position in his gun-well and took the enemy forces under fire. His machinegun was the only weapon placing effective fire on the enemy at that time. Through a resolve that overcame the shock and intolerable pain of his injuries, Sp4c. Wetzel remained at his position until he had eliminated the automatic weapons emplacement that had been inflicting heavy casualties on the American troops and preventing them from moving against this strong enemy force. Refusing to attend his own extensive wounds, he attempted to return to the aid of his aircraft commander but passed out from loss of blood. Regaining consciousness, he persisted in his efforts to drag himself to the aid of his fellow crewman. After an agonizing effort, he came to the side of the crew chief who was attempting to drag the wounded aircraft commander to the safety of a nearby dike. Unswerving in his devotion to his fellow man, Sp4c. Wetzel assisted his crew chief even though he lost consciousness once again during this action. Sp4c. Wetzel displayed extraordinary heroism in his efforts to aid his fellow crewmen. His gallant actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

[nice castle]

iirc the man had amassed over 2000 combat hours in hueys by the end of Vietnam.

If that stat belongs to someone else, I apologise, I'm not totally certain it was him, but it does ring a bell. Even if not, it takes nothing away from a legendary bloke.

[Brian Abraham]

NC, after a 12 month tour an aviator (those flying Hueys at least) usually had well in excess of 1,000 hours on the job. Monthly limit at one stage was 210 hours, dropping to 140 later on.

[742]

Say what you want to about the poster, the e-mail, snopes, and everything else....but do not think anything you say or think will diminish the events that took place at LZ X-Ray during the first day or the following days. Freeman and others performed with great courage and determination in combat with the North Vietnamese Army Regulars. The ground troops were greatly outnumbered, surrounded, and very close to being over run.

SASless -

I do not see anyone disparaging Captain Freeman, in fact very much to the contrary.

The criticism is of using his story, in an inaccurate form, to make a false allegation for political reasons. Unfortunately this has become all too common in the United States recently, with a steady stream of sensational, often hysterical, chain e-mails that can only be called propaganda. If anything on this thread is diminishing the history it is this manipulation of it.

Captain Freeman, and people like him, need to be honored and remembered. And the American Press did in fact do that when he passed away.

[Lightning Mate]

Hey, look guys,

I'm sorry I posted this out of pure ignorance of dates.

However, I still think this man was somebody special.

(...and the world keeps going on about fighter pilots for some obscure reason....)

[cornish-stormrider]

Nevertheless, you can take comfort in the fact that somewhere there is a bar, for the use of, whereby old warriors who have gone to rest can have a cold one of their choice, no remfs allowed.

And the stories are epic, humble tales of bravery and derring do. I only hope I can be found worthy enough to be a barman to such men (and women).

Thats my idea of a job.

[Double Zero]

I can only agree with the courage described.

I can think of another example of extraordinary bravery; a while ago now a Pilot in a Harrier T4 was taking a young trainee for a flight ( hopefully the 1st female RAF fast jet pilot, IIRC ) when flying fast at low level - 450kts at 250' rings a bell - they suffered a major birdstrike.

The pilot had his canopy shattered, blinding him and leaving teeth shoved down his throat.

As he could not command eject from the front and his intercom was out, all he could do was hope they were pointing upwards when he ejected, hoping she would take the hint as per briefing and follow.

The aircraft crashed into a field, setting it on fire.

She had broken a thigh or similar on ejecting, and despite being blinded he deliberately walked into the fire, guided by her screams, then dragged her to safety.

There was mention of a VC, but it was turned down as apparently one has to be in airborne peril to earn one in a flying accident !

I'd like to meet the civil serpent who decided that, preferably in a dark alley...

[Jimmy Macintosh]

I agree it was impressive, reading the OP it made me watch We Were Soldiers again.

Though he's still alive, for the same action Bruce Crandell got the MoH as well. It seems the film highlighted the action and brought the citations back to light and both pilots were upgraded and awarded by G.W.Bush.
(Crandell being the boggest driver behind Ed getting his award)

Still incredibly impressive.

[Bushfiva]

apparently one has to be in airborne peril

No, one has it be "in the face of the enemy". You'll need to go back to 1881 to find your "civil servant".