MEMORIAL LETTER FOR FUNERAL OF MAJOR ED FREEMAN August 23, 2008

From Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway

Those of us who fought the ground war in Vietnam never hear the Whup Whup Whup of the Huey helicopter blades without pausing to bless those who flew and crewed the birds.

The choppers and the brave aviators who owned them were literally our lifeline, our supply line, our rides in and out of Hell.

Standing head and shoulders above them all, in our estimation, were Major Ed Freeman and his wingman and boss, Lt. Col. Bruce Crandall.

They were absolutely fearless and flawless Huey pilots who would go anywhere to bring in reinforcements and ammo and water and to take out the seriously wounded who otherwise would die in the jungle and tall elephant grass.

We never thought of one without the other. Ed and Bruce were inseparable, incorrigible and inevitable—a force of nature and the scourge of the enemy, the bureaucracy and Air Force supply sergeants.

They never let us down. They always came when we called, even though at times the chances of their getting in and out alive weren’t all the best.

We say a fond and temporary farewell today to our buddy Too Tall Ed. We embrace Ed’s beloved wife Barbara and their children and grandchildren, and our buddy Bruce. They have lost someone precious and we share their grief.

We will see Ed Freeman and all our brothers-in-arms who have crossed the river again one day—and we know we can land safely because Too Tall Ed is already there prepping the LZ for us.

GARRYOWEN AND GODSPEED!