Thought you should know about this man.
- Thread starter skidoorulz
- Start date
R.I.P. Ed Freeman, you made a difference.
A good read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Freeman
RIP
RIP
AWESOME post.
Rest in peace Ed.
A TRUE HERO indeed.
Rest in peace Ed.
A TRUE HERO indeed.
S
Supplicate
ACCOUNT CLOSED
Very factual. The novel and screenplay were written by the reporter that was there. The same reporter that is a character in the film. When my sister was going to grad school in Boston her professor was said former reporter; he took his entire class to the premier of We Were Soldiers. My sister said he sat through the whole film openly weeping.......
S
skidoorulz
Well-known member
Sounds like he was a prime example of courage and selflessness!
RIP Ed...a prayer for his family and friends
RIP Ed...a prayer for his family and friends
P
priest lake rmk
Well-known member
I feel like a little less of a man right now. Thanks for the post. I will be printing it off and sticking it on the board at work.
RIP Mr. Freeman,
It is too bad that more people don't know of your story, truly sad.
It is too bad that more people don't know of your story, truly sad.
Great post!! Makes you all teary in that good, proud way.
There are several like Ed Freeman that were never recognized. Several of them never made it home alive. On Thanksgiving day of 1967 the 173rd Airborne Brigade made it to the top of Hill 875 at Dak To. The Army flew in a Thanksgiving Dinner to the guys on the top of the mountain. In the past two weeks approximately 3000 soldiers lost their lives on that mountain. In 90 degree heat and 90 percent humidity the Turkey was not too appetizing and many guys that were there cannot eat Turkey to this day. Over 300 men from the 173 Airborne Brigade were killed on that mountain. Of 13 combat medics, eleven were killed along with the Company Chaplain, Father Charles Watters who was awarded the Medal of Honor.
On June 10th 1969 members of the 101st Airborne fought a battle called "Hamburger Hill". A battle very similar to "Hill 875" and the battle by the First Cav in the Ia Drang Valley. Those three battle were the bloodies of the war in Vietnam. Many guys lost their lives in those three battles.
During the battle for Hill 875 (I can't remember the exact number) but about 30 men from the 173rd were separated from the main unit and got lost. They were all found dead and had been executed by the NVA, each with a bullet in their heads.
There is a documentary called "The Invisible Enemy". If you truly want to see what the battle on Hill 875 was like I would recommend finding that and watching it. One hour long. It is not Hollywood and has actual photography of the battle. The numbers it describes are incorrect however. There were over 300 men from the 173rd that were killed and not the 185 or so they mention on the documentary.........
On June 10th 1969 members of the 101st Airborne fought a battle called "Hamburger Hill". A battle very similar to "Hill 875" and the battle by the First Cav in the Ia Drang Valley. Those three battle were the bloodies of the war in Vietnam. Many guys lost their lives in those three battles.
During the battle for Hill 875 (I can't remember the exact number) but about 30 men from the 173rd were separated from the main unit and got lost. They were all found dead and had been executed by the NVA, each with a bullet in their heads.
There is a documentary called "The Invisible Enemy". If you truly want to see what the battle on Hill 875 was like I would recommend finding that and watching it. One hour long. It is not Hollywood and has actual photography of the battle. The numbers it describes are incorrect however. There were over 300 men from the 173rd that were killed and not the 185 or so they mention on the documentary.........
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
where before me many men have gone
when they come I will stand my ground
stand my ground
I'll not be afraid
Rest in peace..
You were a better men than most.
where before me many men have gone
when they come I will stand my ground
stand my ground
I'll not be afraid
Rest in peace..
You were a better men than most.
AWESOME POST.
It reminds me of my grandfathers story too, which I have a recorded interview of him.
I interviewed him in 1993 for a college paper. He asked me to erase it when I was done. I lied, and said I would erase the tape.
Similar acts of courage and valor.
He was in his early 20's. Farm kid from Montana. Family was scared to death 1/2 way around the world.
He was in Korea.
In battle, he had just saved the life of the son of an American General Mark Clark days before by putting himself and cover-fire in the way of General Clark's son.
A couple days later, he was being overrun by the Chinese.
His platoon was in retreat.
Grandpa was covering with machine gun fire. He covered so hard his barrell melted.
He retreated.
He was shot through the groin 3 times from behind.
He lay there almost dead.
He faked dead while the Chinese were bayonetting the living.
He was face up on the ground.
They touched his eye lashes with a bayonette. He didn't flinch. He pretended to be dead to save his own life.
They bought it.
They didn't stick him.
He is still alive. For now.
Back in Montana his family was listening to a weekly national CBS radio show.
Hadn't heard from their son in weeks.
General Mark Clark is being interviewed by CBS:
"So I understand, General Clark, that the man, John Stiegler, who saved your son's life in battle last week was killed today in battle.
That was how they found out their son was shot.
Meanwhile Americans came back through later on that day to get American bodies. They were zipping up Grandpa in the bag when he fluttered his eyes. Someone saw it.
They called a medic. SOMEWHOW they saved his life 12 or so hours after he was hit.
He spent two hears in military hospitals in Japan, San Fransisco and Fort Lewis Washington. I think he was at Madagan most of the time.
He never was the same after that. PTSD for the rest of his life. He tried to climb out the window of a Caribbean cruise ship in December 1996 during a nightmre. I had to wake him up and calm him down.
We lost Grandpa in Feb of 1998.
We hunted, fished and lived together for as long as possible. Thanks, Grampa, for the best 26 years a grandson could ask for.
I still have my interview.
It's chilling to listen to it come from the person who lived it first hand. Bone chilling.
It reminds me of my grandfathers story too, which I have a recorded interview of him.
I interviewed him in 1993 for a college paper. He asked me to erase it when I was done. I lied, and said I would erase the tape.
Similar acts of courage and valor.
He was in his early 20's. Farm kid from Montana. Family was scared to death 1/2 way around the world.
He was in Korea.
In battle, he had just saved the life of the son of an American General Mark Clark days before by putting himself and cover-fire in the way of General Clark's son.
A couple days later, he was being overrun by the Chinese.
His platoon was in retreat.
Grandpa was covering with machine gun fire. He covered so hard his barrell melted.
He retreated.
He was shot through the groin 3 times from behind.
He lay there almost dead.
He faked dead while the Chinese were bayonetting the living.
He was face up on the ground.
They touched his eye lashes with a bayonette. He didn't flinch. He pretended to be dead to save his own life.
They bought it.
They didn't stick him.
He is still alive. For now.
Back in Montana his family was listening to a weekly national CBS radio show.
Hadn't heard from their son in weeks.
General Mark Clark is being interviewed by CBS:
"So I understand, General Clark, that the man, John Stiegler, who saved your son's life in battle last week was killed today in battle.
That was how they found out their son was shot.
Meanwhile Americans came back through later on that day to get American bodies. They were zipping up Grandpa in the bag when he fluttered his eyes. Someone saw it.
They called a medic. SOMEWHOW they saved his life 12 or so hours after he was hit.
He spent two hears in military hospitals in Japan, San Fransisco and Fort Lewis Washington. I think he was at Madagan most of the time.
He never was the same after that. PTSD for the rest of his life. He tried to climb out the window of a Caribbean cruise ship in December 1996 during a nightmre. I had to wake him up and calm him down.
We lost Grandpa in Feb of 1998.
We hunted, fished and lived together for as long as possible. Thanks, Grampa, for the best 26 years a grandson could ask for.
I still have my interview.
It's chilling to listen to it come from the person who lived it first hand. Bone chilling.
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Wow Scott, your Grandpa sounds like quite a guy. I hope my grandkids have good things to say about me after I croak. I am glad you saved his stories, I think he would like that even though he wanted you to erase them. A great man.
M
MPS
Well-known member
wow thanks Scott....that is quite a story! Your gramps is in a good place right now!
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