[Vision2020] Medal of Honor Veteran Dies in Idaho

[Tom Hansen]

>From the daily News Roundup Edition of the Army Times -

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Medal of Honor veteran dies in Idaho

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President Bush drapes the Congressional Medal of Honor on Ed Freeman of 
Boise, Idaho, in the East Room at the White House Monday, July 16, 2001. 
Mr. Freeman was awarded the honor for his actions in 1965 when, as a 
helicopter pilot during, he flew through gunfire more than 20 times during 
a single, ferocious battle, bringing supplies to a trapped batallion and 
flying more than 70 wounded soldiers to safety. White House photo by Paul 
Morse. 

http://tinyurl.com/6revua
 
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BOISE, Idaho — Ed Freeman, an Army veteran who was awarded the 
congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Vietnam War, has 
died. He was 80.

Freeman’s youngest son, Doug Freeman, says his father died Wednesday in 
Boise from health complications due to Parkinson’s Disease.

Lt. Col. Tim Marsano, with the Idaho National Guard, says funeral services 
have been scheduled for Saturday. Freeman will then be buried at the Idaho 
Veteran’s Cemetery in Boise.

Freeman’s heroics as a flight leader during the war were featured in the 
2002 Mel Gibson movie “We Were Soldiers.”

Freeman and another pilot, Bruce Crandall, were credited with saving more 
than 70 wounded soldiers by flying them to safety during one of the 
fiercest battles of the Vietnam War.

Crandall was also awarded the Medal of Honor.

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>From the October 10, 2006 edition of "The Transporter" (Idaho Department 
of Transportation) . . .

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Retired Army Maj. Ed Freeman, Bob Hoff and Ed Stimpson will be honored 
during a Hall of Fame induction dinner Tuesday, Oct. 24, beginning at 6 
p.m. in the Boise River Room on the third floor of the Boise Air Terminal 
rotunda.

David Hinson, former Federal Aeronautics and Aviation administrator, will 
be the featured speaker. Hinson is retired and lives in Ketchum.

Freeman was awarded a Medal of Honor for gallantry during service in 
Vietnam in 1965.

He risked his life by flying a Huey helicopter numerous times through 
enemy fire, delivering needed ammunition, water and medical supplies to a 
besieged American infantry battalion. After retiring from the military, he 
flew for 21 years as Northwest-area director of aircraft services for the 
U.S. Department of the Interior's Boise office.

A leader in Idaho’s aviation community for more than half a century, Hoff 
is an airplane collector and restorer who often raises money for Idaho 
charities by auctioning flights in his collected aircraft. He is president 
of the International Staggerwing Club and continues to be a coordinator 
for and participant in Idaho aerial search and rescue operations.

Stimpson served as U.S. ambassador to the council of the ICAO for five 
years, beginning in 1999. Prior to his congressional appointment, he was 
president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association for 25 years. 
He was instrumental in passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act 
that alleviated huge product liability costs and reinvigorated the general 
aviation industry.

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Pro patria,

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho


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