Bush awards Medal of Honor to Vietnam chopper pilot

Bush places the Medal of Honor on Freeman in Washington on Monday

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Monday presented the nation's highest military honor to an Army helicopter pilot who is credited with evacuating wounded soldiers and delivering supplies to a battle zone during the Vietnam War.

Thirty-six years ago, Capt. Ed W. Freeman, a flight leader and second-in-command of a 16-helicopter lift unit, flew his unarmed helicopter through enemy fire to deliver ammunition, water and medical supplies to an infantry battalion engaged in battle in what was then the Republic of Vietnam.

"He served his country and his comrades to the fullest, rising above and beyond anything the Army or the nation could have ever asked," Bush said.

The president draped the Medal of Honor around the neck of Freeman, of Boise, Idaho, in a brief ceremony before other medal winners, Freeman's family, government officials and members of Congress.

VIDEO U.S. President George W. Bush awards nation's highest military honor to Capt. Ed W. Freeman, a Vietnam helicopter pilot (July 16) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

According to the citation, Freeman "supported a heavily engaged American infantry battalion" in the la Drang Valley.

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," the citation reads.

"When the infantry commander closed the helicopter landing zone, due to intense direct enemy fire, Capt. Freeman risked his own life."

According to the citation, "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."

The citation said 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."

Bush said that while Freeman initially won the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions, his commanding officer and other witnesses always believed he deserved an even higher honor.

The president credited Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, himself a decorated Vietnam veteran, with persuading Congress to award the highest medal to Freeman.

McCain, Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other senior officials witnessed the presentation.

After his retirement from the Army, Freeman served as a pilot for the Interior Department, retiring for a second time in 1991.

Monday's ceremony was the first time Bush has handed out the Medal of Honor.