Rank and organization:
Captain, U.S. Army,
Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter
Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place
and date: Landing Zone X-Ray, la Drang Valley,
Republic of
Vietnam, 14 November 1965. Entered service at: Hattiesburg,
Mississippi. Born: 20
November 1927, Neely, Mississippi. Citation:
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.