A free verse poem about a Vietnam War hero, Cpt. Ed Freeman. |
It was a typical hot and humid day in sunny Southeast Asia (read Vietnam) during the Vietnam War on 14 Nov 1965 -- another day in Hell for American soldiers, only this one would be worse than usual. A battalion of American grunts (soldiers) were helicoptered into Ia Drang River Valley. There they encountered a far superior number of enemy (NVA and VC) and soon were fighting in a desperate battle for their survival. The enemy’s fire was intense … too intense, bullets whizzed overhead and all too often struck their target. Casualties were high (read numerous boys – the average age of American troops in Vietnam was 19 – lying in the dirt and dust as their blood reddened the ground beneath them). Med-Evac helicopters, with their big, red crosses embellishing their sides, couldn’t or wouldn’t fly into such a dangerous landing zone to ferry the gravely wounded fallen soldiers to hospitals and safety. Ammunition in the unit was running out, along with water and other supplies. The situation was grave, approaching hopeless. Many soldiers began to make their peace with the prospect of meeting their death this day. Whop … whop … whop came the most beautiful sound they could imagine. An unarmed and lightly armored Huey helicopter landed amidst all the gunfire, bringing ammunition, water, and supplies. It carried away seriously wounded soldiers. To fly through the murderous enemy fire once had been brave. To do so five times was truly heroic. To do so ten times was the stuff of legends. This helicopter pilot did the impossible 14 times … 14 times flying straight into the face of grinning death. After the last flight, the pilot had been wounded four times in his arms and legs; yet he had kept making return trips into the battle, saving countless lives. He carried out at least thirty gravely wounded soldiers to get life-saving treatment. His ammo and water allowed the battalion to remain a fighting force throughout the battle. Who would believe such a hero could exist if seen in a Hollywood script? Yet, this is his true story. Such a man lived and displayed the courage other men are awed by. This helicopter pilot helped save the day for a battalion of American soldiers! Captain Ed W. Freeman won the Distinguished Flying Cross, along with his Purple Hearts, for his actions that day. To those men who were alive because of his heroism, that wasn’t sufficient. After years of campaigning in his behalf, Freeman received the highest award possible, The Medal of Honor, in the East Room of the White House from President George Bush on 16 July 2001 … at long last and richly deserved. Ed W. Freeman, 20 Nov 1927 – 20 Aug 2008, merely another of America’s military heroes. May his service to his country never be forgotten. [Note: Lest we forget – equally deserving honor: Major Bruce P. Crandall, Freeman’s commanding officer, also flew missions into the Battle of Ia Drang to ferry in water and ammunition and to carry out wounded soldiers. He flew 22 missions in all and also was awarded the Medal of Honor.] Please check out my ten books: http://www.amazon.com/Jr.-Harry-E.-Gilleland/e/B004SVLY02/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 |