The Truth:
The
story of U.S. Army Veteran Ed Freeman is true.
He was a veteran not only of Viet Nam,
but of World War II and Korea.
He was the recipient
of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on November 14,
1965, at Landing Zone X-Ray, in the Ia Drang Valley of Vietnam.
During the Vietnam War
Freeman served as a helicopter pilot with the rank of Captain in US
Army's Company A, 229th, Assault Helicopter Battalion, First Cavalry
Division Air Mobil.
On November 14th,
1965, a US battalion was surrounded by the enemy. In the heat of
the battle when all hope was lost, an unarmed helicopter came to
their aid, bringing water, much needed supplies and ammunition.
According to survivors of the battle the unarmed Huey returned more than
21 times with supplies, evacuating the wounded each trip. That
day, more than 70 soldiers were flown to safety by Captain Freeman.
Freeman was decorated
with the distinguished Flying Cross for his act of bravery but for
decades those who survived this battle felt that a higher honor should
be awarded to the helicopter pilot. On July 16, 2001, Congress
awarded the Medal of Honor to Freeman with the persuasion of
Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Crandall, other survivors who were rescued by
Freeman, and Senator John McCain. That day, Freeman and his wife,
Barbara, were invited to the Whitehouse where President George W.
Bush presented the Congressional Medal of honor before witnesses
consisting of Vice President Cheney, the secretary of defense,
secretary of veterans affairs, the joint chiefs as well as members of
the Joint Chiefs, Senator John McCain, Senator Craig, Congressman
Otter, and Congressman Simpson from the delegation of Idaho.
On August 20, 2008,
Major Ed Freeman passed away from complications of Parkinson's disease
at the age of 80 and was laid to rest at the Veterans Cemetery in Idaho, where he settled.
In March of 2009, the
United States Congress bestowed one more honor to Major Freeman.
They designated the US Post Office in his place of birth McLain,
Mississippi, the "Major Ed W. Freeman Post Office."
Click
for CNN Transcript of President Bush's presentation of the
Congressional Medal of Honor.
updated 04/02/2009
