16-023 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

Ohio National Guard fighting to liberate Luzon during the 1945 Philippines campaign.

Information

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[CINDERS]

3rd GI in line looks like it could be "Too Talls" dad from Once We Were Soldiers....
Tankies ~ P.B.I (Poor Bloody Infantry)
Infantry ~ Tankies!

[Bob Womack]

Captain Ed W. "Too Tall" Freeman, November 20, 1927 – August 20, 2008, received the Medal of Honor for his brave actions in that battle:

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.

Interestingly, Freeman enlisted in the Navy at 17 during WWII, before he graduated high school. At the end of the war he mustered out and finished high school. He then enlisted in the Army and rose to the rank of first sergeant in the Corps of Engineers but fought as an infantryman in Korea. After being one of only fourteen out of 267 to survive Pork Chop Hill he was awarded a battlefield commission. His 2nd Lieutenant bars were pinned on by General James Van Fleet, he was given command of a company and sent right back up Pork Chop Hill.

After Korea, when he applied for pilot training, he was told he was "too tall" for pilot duty. However the height limit was raised in 1955 and he was accepted for training but the nickname stuck with him for the rest of his career.

Bob

[Bob Seijas]

A giant in all respects.