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The
President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress,
March
3, 1863, has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor to
CAPTAIN
ED W. FREEMAN
UNITED
STATES ARMY
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, 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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