Priorities??

[dragonworld.]

I know this isnt Oz in origin, but the thought is the same. Brave people just dont generall get a mention unless its regarded as "Newsworthy"?? It sucks!!

 

You're a 19 year old kid.  You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle in the  Ia Drang Valley  ,  11-14-1965, LZ X-ray ,  Vietnam .  Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8 - 1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in.

You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out.
Your family is 1/2 way around the world, 12,000 miles away and you'll never see them again.
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.
 Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter..!!
You look up to see an un-armed Huey!!  But.... it doesn't seem real because no Medi-Vac markings are on it.
Ed Freeman is coming for you..!!
He's not Medi-Vac so it's not his job, but he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.  Even after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come.
 He's coming anyway.  And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 2 or 3 of you on board.
Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the Doctors and Nurses.
And, he kept coming back..!! 13 more times..!!
He took about 30 of you and your buddies out who would never have gotten out.

  Medal of Honor Recipient, Ed Freeman, died last Wednesday at the age of 80, in Boise , ID   
May God Rest His Soul.

I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing...we had 24/7 coverage of Michael Jackson instead.



Medal of Honor Winner
Ed Freeman!

Shame on the Media..!!




 

[Big T]

He's one of the real hero's that I admire more than 1,000,000 Jackson misfits.........

Home with your buddies now Ed.......

[Yellow Meanie]

My old man...

Vietnam Vet...

RIP...   

[vossy]

Wow! amazing story.

Thanks for sharing that with us dragon.

[dragonworld.]

I have an affinity with the Vietnam era guys as I was of the age that had to register for the ballot to be conscripted but wasnt selected! (In hindsight, that wasnt a bad thing??) But friends were, and I have seen over the years the shit that the war caused these people, (Through no fault of their own.) from the war itself and unfortunately the Australian population and Government afterwards.

Even the RSL wouldnt accept them as members because the dickheads in the RSL didnt regard Vietnam as a war would you believe!  

No wonder these veterans have a jaundiced view of the Government/Army etc. The only thing they can rely on is their mates who served with them, even above family in a lot of cases.

 And dont EVER tell them you understand how they feel.  
I guarantee you wont like the response you get!

Lest we Forget!


I'll get off my soapbox now, but I have seen first hand how these ex service people are treated, and it pisses me off hugely. And if you die for your country (even now, see Afghanistan) your family will get naff all support from the Service and the Government that sent you.

[Betty]

I know how you feel Dragon (sorry couldn't help myself).

Seriously I know what you mean about the support network amongst some of the vets. Friends of ours have recently 'adopted' a fellow Viet vet who is struggling with some addiction problems ... they invited him to come and live with them so they can help him through it.

Another, friends of the old folks ... she bought him a scenic helicopter ride for some milestone celebration and although knowing he served in Vietnam knows little more despite decades of marriage. All I know is he was a medic and there is no make the beast with two backsing way he is EVER getting back in a chopper.

And just to make you feel that much better I am not sure if the old man was technically old enough for conscription.

[dragonworld.]

Vets need all the help they can get!! Like my mate who did 2 stints in 'Nam as a regular (SAS) and came back with a shitload of baggage, From the small bits that he has talked about (Which isnt very much!!  ) there was some pretty nasty stuff happened.

But when he went to the Repatriation Hospital here in Vic with skin problems and the Shrinks and the Docs told him there was "No such thing as Agent Orange"! and he proceeded to climb up on their desk and drop his pants and show them the sheets of skin sloughing off his scrote and thighs, and stating that "I must be imagining THIS then!" and they gave him antidepressants and other shit which made him lose all touch with reality!! 

Goodbye wife number 2. If you werent a nutcase before, you ended up completely phucked after their gentle ministrations. 

[signora monster]

Very sad indeed. They deserve better. I have total respect and I make an effort to teach my son appreciation and respect for these brave souls. Pass the words on to the younger generation so that these heroes will never be forgotten.

[Serious Groper]

I have Police and Army on my wife's side and the stories i hear are just unreal.

The SAS soldier in Afghanistan who was shot then chained himself to the front of their jeep and continued fighting for 10 more minutes was Hollywood type of action.

Lots of respect for our defense personal, a bunch of very honorable men and women.