Page 4 - ISI_163_AugustSeptember

All About Idaho
PAGE 4 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2020

Remembering Captain Ed Freeman:

Idaho’s Vietnam War Hero

President George W. Bush drapes the Medal of Honor around the neck of Photo courtesy U.S. National Archives.
Captain Ed W. Freeman during ceremonies in the East Room of the White House.

Freeman, one of several children, was an infantryman. Freeman took part in the
BY KATHLEEN MULROY born on Nov. 20, 1927, on his parents’ farm Battle of Pork Chop Hill and was awarded a
in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. In 1944, he left Battlefield Commission in 1953.
Captain Ed Freeman was the very defini- high school before graduating, in order to After he returned to the United States,
tion of a war hero: A soldier who risked his join the Navy. Freeman served on an oiler he applied for flight school but was rejected
life under extremely dangerous conditions that provided petroleum to combat ships in because he was considered too tall at 6' 4".
in order to save others. As an Army captain the Pacific during World War II. Eventually, the height requirements
in the Vietnam War, Freeman volunteered After the war ended, he went back to relaxed, and he was able to attend, and
for a very risky mission he knew might be finish high school then enlisted in the Army. graduate from, flight school. For the next
his last, and he rescued many men because He was a Master Sergeant in the Army Corps decade, Freeman flew around the world for
of his bravery. of Engineers, but he fought in Korea as the Army, mapping countries, first in fixed-
wing aircrafts then in helicopters.
Freeman was close to retiring when
the United States entered the war in
Southeastern Idaho Vietnam. Since he was an experienced
Community Action Agency pilot, he was assigned to the 229th
Assault Helicopter Battalion.
Helping People. Changing Lives.
The 229th was soon sent to deliver
troops to what became known as the Battle
Affordable Independent Living* of Ia Drang, which was the first major
SEICAA is accepting applications for
battle between U.S. and North Vietnamese
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