Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Ed ("Too Tall") Freeman of Boise died Wednesday

Idaho Statesman ^ | 8/20/2008 | Katy Moeller

[Domandred]

Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Ed Freeman of Boise died Wednesday morning, according to a friend of the Freeman family. He was 80 years old.

-- SNIP --

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.

[Domandred]

Was going to post some other news article, but decided this one was more important.

[Domandred]

Ping

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[pipecorp]

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.

[Jeff Head]

RIP Too Tall...MGRYIS.

[pipecorp]

http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?video_id=bLj7-97WdD4&rel=1&eurl=http%3A//www.clannandrumma.com/footage.html&iurl=http%3A//i3.ytimg.com/vi/bLj7-97WdD4/default.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskKBk9J7o9cnePFwYwLUlFEC&use_get_video_info=1&load_modules=1

Hopefully a link to Clan an Drumma.... Playing Sgt Mackenzie in a march as opposed to the ballad as performed at Loon Mountain at the NH highland games...

[DuncanWaring]

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.

[jazusamo]

Ed Freeman, Medal of Honor recipient and one of America's finest.

God Bless him and his family.

[vigilence]

And portrayed by Greg Kinnear?

[pipecorp]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzlcajAiBps&feature=related
A BETTER RENDITION

Yes, I believe you are correct.

[JRandomFreeper]

Dear Lord, let me live up to the standard that my American hero predecessors have left for me.

Not that I can be a hero, like our missing soldier, but I would have fed the tip of the spear a really great meal.

God bless the men that fly and fight.

/johnny

[Domandred]

In the movie We Were Soldiers Ed "Too Tall" Freeman was played by Mark McCracken. Greg Kinnear portrayed Maj. Bruce "Snake" Crandall.

Greg got more screen time where most of "Too Tall"s screen time was over "Snake"'s radio.

If I recall, Ed Freeman received his Medal of Honor several years before Bruce Crandall did.

Bruce Crandall finally received his in Feb 2007 and there was much talk about it here at FR when it happened.

[T-Bird45]

And portrayed by Greg Kinnear?

Ed Freeman was played by Mark McCracken: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0277434/fullcredits#cast

Kinnear played Major Bruce "Snakesh*t" Crandall.

[silent_jonny]

God bless him.

Moore: You're a pilot?

Freeman: Yes, sir. "Too Tall".

Moore: I can see that.

Freeman: You call, we haul.

[pipecorp]

Thanks for the correction. :)

[packrat35]

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.

Key passage in bold.

[DuncanWaring]

Good point.

Nice embedded euphemism “...heavily committed units...”.

[Chode]

Prayers up, RIP...

[NonValueAdded]

Rest In Peace, Capt. Freeman, and prayers for your family.

[mware]

Wasn't this one on the men who was involved in the real.

We Were Soldiers.....