Never Forget...  Freedom Is NOT Free

An amazing spirit slipped away a few weeks ago and we only became aware of it this weekend... and we did not waste anymore time in letting you know that one of the best and brightest of our nation's many heroes has gone west.

His name was Ed W. "Too Tall" Freeman -- an American Hero who was once a Captain, US Army Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Ed was one of the thousands who served our nation in Vietnam... and a number of years after his service was done, a grateful nation recognized that he deserved the medal of Honor... and at a long overdue 2001 ceremony, one of Vietnam's many heroes finally got the thanks he deserved.

The Medal of Honor citation tells an amazing story...

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 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 gone down, with 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.

Captain Freeman went west on August 20th 2008... but we wanted to let you know without further delay that another great man, a flyer like us, has gone the way we all must go... but not before leaving this world a better and safer place. Ed "Too Tall" Freeman has gone west... leaving a grateful nation behind to remember an amazing hero...

Godspeed Captain, and God Bless...

FMI: www.cmohs.org