Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Wednesday Hero

This Post Was Suggested By Mark Bell

Capt. Ed W. Freeman
Capt. Ed W. Freeman
November 20, 1927 - August 20, 2008
U.S. Army

For The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain Ed W. Freeman, United States Army, for 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), action against enemy aggressor forces at LZ X-Ray, Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam, on 14 November 1965 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 infantry 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 experienced a 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.

In 2002, Capt. Ed "Too Tall" Freeman was portrayed by actor Mark McCraken in the movie "We Were Soldiers". Capt. Freeman passed away in 2008 due to complications of Parkinson's.

Here is a great article on Capt. Freeman and his award ceremony.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Wednesday Hero Logo


--
Christopher Lee
Wednesday Hero - Google It
http://twitter.com/NativePatriot
http://rightwingrightminded.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/people/Christhopher-Lee/505116977

Who are you and who am I
To say we know the reason why
Some are born some men die
Beneath one infinite sky

Sphere: Related Content

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy

John 'Jack' Agnew
John "Jack" Agnew (Right)
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
U.S. Army

John "Jack" Agnew, one of the original members of an Army unit that operated behind enemy lines in World War II and is often credited with having loosely inspired the movie "The Dirty Dozen", has died at age 88.

Agnew belonged to the Filthy Thirteen, an unofficial unit within the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He was pronounced dead last Thursday at Abington Memorial Hospital after becoming ill at his home in the Maple Village retirement community in Hatboro, where he and his wife moved about a year ago, his daughter Barbara Agnew Maloney said.


You Can Read The Rest Of The Article Here And More Info On The "Filthy Thirteen" Can Be Found Here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Wednesday Hero Logo


--
Christopher Lee
Wednesday Hero - Google It
http://twitter.com/NativePatriot
http://rightwingrightminded.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/people/Christhopher-Lee/505116977

Who are you and who am I
To say we know the reason why
Some are born some men die
Beneath one infinite sky

Sphere: Related Content

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Wednesday Hero

Sgt. Maj. James E. Booker
Sgt. Maj. James E. Booker
Second Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
U.S. Marine Corps

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Major James E. Booker, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Sergeant Major, Second Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U. S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from February to September 2004. Sergeant Major Booker courageously exposed himself to enemy fire while leading Marines and eliminating enemy forces in several battalion engagements. On 31 March 2004 the forward command element came under intense machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire. With utter disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Major Booker dismounted the vehicle, engaged the enemy and forced their withdrawal. He pursued his attackers down several darkened city streets and mortally wounded a rocket-propelled grenade gunner who was engaging the Command Group. Sergeant Major Booker subsequently led a search that resulted in the arrest and capture of an eight-man cell and several weapons. On 10 April 2004, the forward command element came under fire from insurgents during cordon and search operations. He calmly led a team of Marines in a counterattack, personally clearing several buildings, eliminating one insurgent fighter, and facilitating the evacuation of a severely wounded Marine. Sergeant Major Booker's efforts enabled the forward command element to regain freedom of maneuver and inspired Marines to fearlessly engage the enemy. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and loyal dedication to duty, Sergeant Major Booker reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Wednesday Hero Logo


--

Christopher Lee
Wednesday Hero
Geek, Conservative, Music Addict
Gooner Til I Die

Our Constitution is a document in which
"We the people" tell the government what
it is allowed to do. "We the people" are free.

Find Me On BloggerWordpressFacebookTwitter

Sphere: Related Content

Friday, April 9, 2010

Girl's stepdad defends 3 accused of raping her


TRENTON, N.J. — A horrifying case — a gang rape of a 7-year-old girl sold by her teen stepsister to armed men — grew more bizarre when the victim's stepfather showed up outside the Trenton courthouse on Thursday to say that three of the five accused had actually tried to help the girl.

He was summoned to the courthouse by family members of the suspects, who have his phone number on speed dial, a seemingly strange alliance amid a crime that has inflamed a poor community.

“These three had nothing to do with nothing; I don't know why they locked them up,” the stepfather said of Gregory Leary, 20; Timear Lewis, 19, and a 17-year-old whom authorities have not identified because of his age.

The Associated Press generally does not identify people alleging sex crimes and is not naming the stepfather to avoid identifying the girl.

In all, five men and boys have been arrested on suspicion of raping the girl. The other suspects are ages 13 and 14. The 15-year-old stepsister also has been charged with promoting prostitution.

Lewis is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Friday. It was his mother who called the girl's stepfather, imploring him to come to the courthouse to talk to reporters.

“Please tell them my son did not do this,” Tracy Lewis said. “He was there but he didn't touch anyone.”

Police say there is DNA evidence of the crime, but the prosecution may hinge on the word of a little girl, her troubled stepsister and the other men and boys who watched the crime.

According to police, the 7-year-old was prostituted out by her 15-year-old stepsister, who watched as she was raped by as many as seven men and boys at a party at the Rowan Tower apartments on March 28. As many as a dozen people were at the party, held in a vacant apartment in the crime-plagued public housing complex not far from the New Jersey Statehouse.

Investigators said that soon after arriving, the older girl took money to have sex with several men at a party, including Leary. The teen then gave some of the money she had collected to the younger girl to let the men start touching her. It soon escalated to rape, police said, and the men threatened to kill the child if she screamed or told anyone, police said.

The girl later put on her clothes and left the apartment; her older stepsister stayed, police say. Two women found the child crying outside the apartment and walked her home, where police were waiting because the girls' parents had reported them missing.

The girl told police what happened and her sister was soon found and arrested.

“She should have never took my daughter there,” the father said of his 15-year-old.

While the father thinks that three of the men may have tried to get the young girl out of the apartment, he doesn't dispute the fact that she was raped by several men.

“My daughter said these guys were trying to help her,” he said. “If you had a gun pointed to your head, you wouldn't be able to do nothing, either.”

Sphere: Related Content

Deputy kills man holding rifle in NE Harris County

A veteran Harris County Sheriff's deputy shot and killed a man who had threatened
him with a Taser at a home in the Atascocita area early this morning after an alleged assault at a nearby bar, officials said.

The deputy also shot the man's dog which became very aggressive after the man told the animal to attack the lawman during a confrontation before the fatal shooting.

The shooting occurred at the house in the 3800 block of Beckett Ridge Drive about 12:15 a.m., according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

The man, whose name has not been released, was shot at least once and died at the scene.

The deputy, whose name has not been released, was not injured. He’s been with the sheriff’s office for 19 years.

The deputy drove to the home in northeast Harris County to investigate an assault that had taken place a short time earlier at a sports bar on FM 1960, said Deputy Janie Wagner, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

When the deputy walked to the front door the man, who was a suspect in the assault, opened the door and was holding a rifle, Wagner said.

The deputy convinced the man to put down the gun and then tried to take him into custody for the assault at the bar. But the man struggled against the deputy. Wagner said the deputy used his Taser on the man, but he was unaffected and yanked the Taser away from the deputy.

He pressed the Taser against the deputy as if he was about to use it. He also commanded his pitbull more than once to attack the deputy.

Fearing for his life, the deputy fired his handgun at least once, hitting the man, Wagner said.

Then he shot the dog, which had become very agitated and aggressive toward him, Wagner added. Officials did not know the the dog’s condition.

The man's wife was at home at the time of the shooting. She was not hurt.

It is unclear what led to the alleged assault at the bar.

Sphere: Related Content

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Wednesday Hero

Airman Sasha Sales and Sgt. Richard Montes
Airman Sasha Sales and Sgt. Richard Montes
U.S. Navy

Aviation Support Equipment Technician Airman Sasha Sales, from Gulf Shore, Ala., looks away as Sgt. Richard Montes, from San Antonio, Texas, draws blood samples during a blood drive at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.


Photo Courtesy United States Navy taken by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardelito Gervacio

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Wednesday Hero Logo


--

Christopher Lee
Wednesday Hero

Our Constitution is a document in which
"We the people" tell the government what
it is allowed to do. "We the people" are free.

Sphere: Related Content