Skip to content
Obituaries

Edward Freeman | Vietnam pilot, 80

Edward Freeman, 80, a former Army helicopter pilot awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics during the Vietnam War and portrayed in the Mel Gibson movie We Were Soldiers , died Wednesday in Boise, Idaho, from health complications due to Parkinson's disease.

    Inquirer
    Published 

Edward Freeman, 80, a former Army helicopter pilot awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics during the Vietnam War and portrayed in the Mel Gibson movie

We Were Soldiers

, died Wednesday in Boise, Idaho, from health complications due to Parkinson's disease.

The Mississippi native braved intense enemy fire in the Ia Drang Valley as he carried out rescue missions on Nov. 14, 1965, during what was considered one of the fiercest battles of the war. Actor Mark McCracken portrayed Mr. Freeman in the 2002 film.

Mr. Freeman was 73 when President Bush awarded him the Congressional Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony in 2001. - AP

    Inquirer