Somebody else were rideing for this week-end, VETERANS !

[Dixiecrat]

Courage.

You're a 19 year old kid.

You're critically wounded and dying in
the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam .


It's November 11, 1967.

LZ (landing zone) X-ray.



Your
unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 yards
away, that your CO (commanding officer) has ordered the MedEvac helicopters to
stop coming in.


You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out.

Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again.

As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.

Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter.

You look up to see a Huey coming in. But ... It doesn't seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it.

Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you.


He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.



Even after the MedEvacs were ordered
not to come. He's coming anyway.



And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 of you
at a time on board.

Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses
and safety.


And, he kept coming back!! 13more times!!
Until all the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs
and left arm.




He took 29 of you and your buddies out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey.




Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman, United States Air Force,
died last Wednesday at the age of 70, in Boise, Idaho .


May God Bless and Rest His Soul.



I bet you didn't hear about this
hero's passing, but we've sure seen
a whole bunch about Michael
Jackson and Tiger Woods.


Medal of Honor
Winner Captain Ed Freeman



Shame on the American media !!!
No, Fck em !!!

[Cookie]

Actually I will be going on a ride Sunday morning when I get home in support of all of those who have served and have given their lives http://www.ridefortheheroes.org/ Police escort and the works.

[Dixiecrat]

Actually I will be going on a ride Sunday morning when I get home http://www.ridefortheheroes.org/ Police escort and the works.

Good for You !

[Cookie]

Last count was I think over 300 bikes registered for this.

[Dimoncutr]

Great post Dixie!

[Happy Hours]

AMEN Dixie

[B-Man]

Great Post Dixie!!!

[wndchsr]

Isnt May Veterans Appreciation month?

[Crocodile56]

Awesome post!

[krcampbell]

A big SALUTE to all our men and women serving this nation. Thanks Dixie

[gruss]

I'm humbled by the Bravery and Sacrifice made by those Soldiers who have gone before us, and I'm humbled by this generation of Soldiers as well...
Bless all of you In your duties........g

[jirvin]

Great post!

[Unimoose]

Its definitely an amazing story, actually that whole battle is. The book "We Were Soldiers" is amazing and goes far beyond LZ X-ray.

[wavman8]

Honor and Respect for all the men and women around the world that defend our freedom everyday!! I will be flying my big 3X5 flags from my scoot this Memorial Day in honor of them all past and preset! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

[95sportychick]

That was a great post, still have goosebumps from reading it GOD BLESS AMERICA, and all who serve

[wndchsr]

I have saw that post quite a few times but it always makes me feel very small and brings a tear to my eye every time I see it because its true.

I have not read the book but have saw the film which was based on that incident. My wife can not watch it because she realizes that is was based on an actual event and really happened.

[H8TANK]

Fantastic, may God have a special place for those who gave so much so that we could obsess with such stupidity as michael jackson or tiger woods

[steveston]

Well Done Dixie for bringing this story to the front of the line. I never had the misfortune of shipping out to Vietnam in the 60's but as a Canadian I was privileged to serve with VS27 Squadron in Norfolk Virginia where I made many friends with the Marine Corp and the USN. It is still a highlight of my career in the forces...although many of those folks never returned after their initial tour.
There is a special place reserved for them I am sure....I have to say although there is criticism around the world regarding the US policies it is clearly evident that when the bombs and bullets are flying somewhere there is always an American uniform making efforts to bring some resolve to the issues at hand and for that I am truly thankful....

[Dixiecrat]

I was very fortunate too I served from 65-68 and never had to go. I came on orders 3 times for Nam but I had a critic MOS and that keep me out. I installed detonators in Nukes,lol.

[doorgunnerjgs]

I have read the "We were soldiers once, and young" several times (and have the movie). It is especially dear to me because I arrived at Pleiku only about a month after the battle that took place just west and a little south. One of the first missions that I flew on was to the Special Forces camp just east of the main battle. The entire area around it was a wasteland from the heavy bombing and artillery. I will never forget it.

btw- I was with the First Cavalry Division in Korea in 64-65 before their colors were returned to the U.S. to be given to the new airmobile division that had been trained in the U.S. The division beat me there by about 2 months.