I got this in an email from my Uncle Ariel over the weekend. I’m all for remembering those who have gone to war for my freedom. What I’m not for is the “forward this to everyone you know” type email chains. Those things usually end up in my trash folder with nary a second thought. To be honest, most of the time I don’t even read those things because 9 times out of 10 they’re proven wrong by snopes.com and other fact-checking websites.

So anyway, having read this short story and checking out the validity of it, I’m posting it here to serve as my official “pass it on” gesture. And actually I’m going one step further. Instead of simply giving this the old copy/paste treatment (you can read it verbatim in the link directly above), here is what is written in Mr. Freeman’s wikipedia entry, which is the actual wording from his Medal of Honor 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 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 gone down, with 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.

One thing I must report is that the email I received said he died on March 25th, 2009 when it was actually August 20, 2008. What good is remembering someone when you get the dates wrong?

Anyway, I’d like to give a big heartfelt thank you to Mr. Ed Freeman and the countless other American heroes who fought so valiantly in World War II Vietnam (and other conflicts). It seems everyday we lose another.

Edit: I just wanted to point out that I wasn’t trying to say that I blame my Uncle Ariel for forwarding me a chain email. It was certainly very thoughtful of him to include me in the send-to list. My point was that most of these type of emails end with the same guilt trip. “If you’re a true American, send this to… blah blah blah”. I know my Uncle Ariel wouldn’t have put that in there.