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September 01, 2008
Captain Ed "Too Tall" Freeman Tribute
Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Ed Freeman of Boise died, he was 80 years of age.
Freeman, who was born in November of 1927 in Mississippi, received the Medal of Honor for heroic actions he took as an Army helicopter pilot on Nov. 14, 1965, in Vietnam.
As a flight leader and second in command of a 16-helicopter lift unit, he supported a heavily engaged infantry battalion at Landing Zone X-Ray in the la Drang Valley. He flew 14 separate rescue missions, providing life-saving evacuation of an estimated 30 seriously wounded soldiers.
Freeman has lived in Idaho for the past 30 years.
Citation: 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.
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"We Were Soldiers"
In the movie We Were Soldiers Ed "Too Tall" Freeman was played by Mark McCracken.
Moore: You're a pilot?
Freeman: Yes, sir. "Too Tall".
Moore: I can see that.
Freeman: You call, we haul.
And this from the book, " We Were Soldier's"
From the book "We Were Soldiers Once ... And Young" ... p 108
"Captain Ed Freeman, thirty-six, fought on Pork Chop Hill in Korea as an enlisted man and won a battlefield commission there. At six feet six inches, Freeman was four inches taller than the maximum height limit for Army pilots at the time he went to flight school, hence his nickname: 'Too Tall to Fly.' Crandall and Freeman had been a close team for years, sharing flying duties over some of the world's toughest terrain. Together they had flown the Arctic, the deserts of the Middle East and North Africa, and the jungles of Central and South America on mapping missions for the Army. The only thing the two of them were ever known to argue about was which of them was the second-best helicopter pilot in the world. Pop Jekel describes the Too Tall Ed of that era as 'a good old shit-kicker whose poker winnings could pay off half the national debt.'"...p 109
"We started receiving heavy fire on our approach [into the emergency LZ]. I [Crandall] notified Big Ed and he calmly came back with: 'Roger. What do you want me to do about it, Snake? I kind of thought this might happen.'"
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Sgt. MacKenzie
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears
Ains a year say a prayer faur me
Close yir een an remember me
Nair mair shall a see the sun
For a fell tae a Germans gun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
When they come I will stand my ground
Stand my ground I’ll not be afraid
Thoughts of home take away my fear
Sweat and blood hide my veil of tears
Once a year say a prayer for me
Close your eyes and remember me
Never more shall I see the sun
For I fell to a Germans gun
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Where before many more have gone
In memory of
Sgt. Charles Stewart Mackenzie, Seaforth Highlanders.
Who, along with many others,
gave up his life so that we could live free.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
Written by Joe Kilna MacKenzie, this song is dedicated to the memory of his late Grandfather, Sgt. MacKenzie. This song was featured in the Hollywood movie, “We Were Soldiers” Directed by Randall Wallace & starring Mel Gibson.
Wild Thing's comment............
Pity the wretches of humanity who think their freedom has no cost, they will forever remain in the shadow of better men who paid its price.
....Thank you Tincan.
You all know Tincan he is part of Team Theodore and comments here.
Tincan Sailor notes:
"To~Tallʼs internment Saturday, who ever put it together did a fine job. There were around 200 give or take a few. All the services were represented in the honor guard. The Air Guard did the missing man Fly over with four Apache Gunships. General Hal Moore was there also. The Press Tribune had a story about some of the visitors who came to See To-Tall in the Hospital, quite a few were men he rescued form the Battle in the Ia-Drang!! Agood send off for a good man!!! "
Posted by Wild Thing at September 1, 2008 05:44 AM
Comments
A true hero in every sense of the word.
Posted by: BobF at September 1, 2008 07:29 AM
Thank you and God bless you Wild Thing. This bit of history brought to life is exactly why i love your web site. These brave men and women are what make this country great.God Bless these Brave Rifles.
James R McKenna
U.S. Cavalry
1974-1981
Posted by: James R McKenna at September 1, 2008 07:59 AM
Ed "Too Tall" Freeman was one of the pioneers in the 11th Air Assault Division which became the First Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam. Air cavalry then became the Airmobile concept. It is all Army Aviation which is integral to all Army divisions now but is the primary concept of the 101st and 1st Cavalry today. Air Cavalry crewmen wear black stetsons, a tradition from the old horse cavalry days.
Those early pioneers paid a big price and the Vietnam Wall is full of the names of Army Aviators.
Ed Freeman served in three wars. He was one of America's true warriors. One of the best.
Posted by: TomR at September 1, 2008 09:58 AM
Aw. How sad. I liked Too-Tall. He held true to the American spirit and now his spirit is free to fly again for all eternity. God must have needed a "you call, we haul" guy up there and who better than Too Tall to do it.
My blessings and prayers to his family and those who's lives he touched in so many ways.
Posted by: Lynn at September 1, 2008 10:47 AM
Rest in Peace,
we will take the watch.
prayers for your family.
Posted by: Chief at September 1, 2008 01:52 PM
The gates of Valhalla are opened for another warrior.
Posted by: Rhod at September 1, 2008 06:10 PM
We had a lot of good people over there. Rest in Peace Captain.
Posted by: Mark at September 1, 2008 06:48 PM
BobF, yes he sure was.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 1, 2008 07:23 PM
James R McKenna, thank you so much. Good to see you again.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 1, 2008 07:33 PM
Tom, thank you for sharing about Too Tall.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 1, 2008 07:49 PM
Lynn, Chief, Rhod,and Mark thank you all so much for your commments.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 1, 2008 07:55 PM
