Joe Galloway: Farewell to an American Hero

Michael Yon Online ^ | 8/21/08 | Joe Galloway

[Dawnsblood]

For the better part of 60 years, two old Army pilots who loved each other argued over many a meal and drink as to which of them was the second best pilot in the world.

The two shared the cockpits of old Beaver prop planes and Huey helicopters; they shared rooms in military hooches all over the world; they shared a love of practical and impractical jokes and they shared an undying love of flying and soldiers and the Army.

They also shared membership in a very small and revered fraternity of fewer than 105 men who are entitled to wear around their necks the light blue ribbon and gold pointed star that is the Medal of Honor, America’s highest decoration for heroism above and beyond the call of duty.

Their story was told in a book my buddy Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and I wrote 15 years ago titled "We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young" and in the Mel Gibson movie, "We Were Soldiers," released in the spring of 2002. Too Tall and Old Snake were ably portrayed in the movie.

Their argument over which of them is the Best Pilot in the Whole World sadly came to an end this week when our friend and comrade-in-arms Maj. Ed (Too Tall to Fly) Freeman slipped the surly bonds of earth and headed off to Fiddler’s Green, where the souls of departed cavalrymen gather by dispensation of God Himself.

[LibLieSlayer]

May GOD keep such an American Hero and Patriot. He is a shining example of America at its best. Rest easy Major!

LLS

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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The Real Sgt/Major PLUMLEY =

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set3.htm
(See 1st Photo)

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[ALOHA RONNIE]

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NEVER FORGET

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Where ED ‘Too Tall’ FREEMAN flew in Vietnam, exactly:

(Photos)
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set1.htm
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set2.htm
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set3.htm

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NEVER FORGET

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[Islander7]

Thanks AR and Thanks for your honorable service.

[AprilfromTexas]

Cool. Thanks for posting, I’ll keep this link for future perusing. And thank you for your service to our country. What you guys did was important.

[NonValueAdded]

A wonderful story and I’m happy to give Michael Yon the clicks on his Website.

[AprilfromTexas]

Yeah, that guy was a warrior, and I think his greatest achievement/award was the accumulation of battle scars.

I only found out recently that when wearing the Medal of Honor others of rank have to salute a NCO, probably why he didn’t put it on when the LT first told them to...makes that scene even more poignant.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

God Bless you and your family.

[SuziQ]

In a fine display of the sort of gallows humor that's always helped men who know the horrors of war keep some of their sanity, Bruce told Ed that he intended to settle the question once and for all by borrowing a helicopter, sling-loading Ed’s coffin below it and then lowering it into the grave where Too Tall will rest _ something that only the Best Pilot in the World could do. Something that only the best friend in the world could tell a dying man.

LOL! Woulda been awesome!

[SuziQ]

Entered service at: Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Born 20 Nov. 1927, Neely, Greene County, Mississippi.

Cool! A Mississippi boy, from around Beaumont! Must have gone through Camp Shelby, hence the service entry in Hattiesburg, my hometown!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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NEVER FORGET

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They are still soldiers

http://www.ArmchairGeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66978

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Just for the LOVE of it..!!

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NEVER FORGET

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[Nam Vet]

God bless him.

Nam Vet

[rahbert]

... and all the other dustoff pilots.

Bravest of the brave.

[SuziQ]

My cousin Harvey was a SAR pilot in Vietnam, and did at least two, possibly three, tours of duty. He trained at Ft. Benning about the same time that the AirCav was training. Next time I see him, I'll ask him if he knew Col. Moore and Sgt. Plumley.

I'd always thought Harvey was a Recon Helicopter pilot in Vietnam, but my brother told me last year that he was SAR, and flew helicopters and some small spotter planes, like the one depicted in the movie BAT 21. That astounded me, because the life expectancy of those guys wasn't that great. I think I read a few years ago that several SAR pilots were killed in the attempt to rescue Col. Hambleton, the officer about whom BAT 21 was made.

My Mama said that Harvey was an officer in the Third Armored Division during Gulf War I, and retired at the rank of Brigadier General not too long after that. He was still on active dury when x42 was President, because Mama said he had to escort x42 and Her Heinous around Frankfurt, I think it was, where the Division was based. Harvey wasn't impressed. ;o)

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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Thank you very much for sharing with us your hero cousin HARVEY and his selfless expoits on behalf of the Freedom of others long ago, SuziQ.

Our Battle of IA DRANG-1965 Forward Air Controller, the man who called in “Broken Arrow” airstrikes on a surrounding NVA enemy in November-1965, was himself shot down on Christmas Eve 1965.

Lt. Col. CHARLIE W. HASTINGS’ O-1E spotter plane wreckage ended up on the side of a famed MANG YANG Pass Hill.

HASTINGS later went on to help run our 1975 air evacuation of Vietnam from an airbase in Thailand during the Fall of Saigon:

(See 4th Photo down of HASTINGS’ O-1E spotter plan wreckage on the side of a Mang Yang Pass Hill)

http://www.lzxray.com/misc_pages/lemp_collection4.html

(See 5th Photo down taken just a few miles east of the Mang Yang Pass on Christmas Day-1965)

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set2.htm

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