[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 94 (Tuesday, July 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          HONORING THE MEMORY OF ARMY SFC. JIMMY GRANT FREEMAN

                                 ______


                           HON. GLEN BROWDER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 19, 1994

  Mr. BROWDER. Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago, Army Sfc. Jimmy Grant 
Freeman, of Taladega, AL, died a hero's death while defending a small, 
isolated base camp at Soc Trang, in South Vietnam. The memory of this 
young man is still fresh in his native State, where veterans and civic 
organizations are working to establish a Jimmy Grant Freeman Memorial.
  I was in Talladega recently for Memorial Day ceremonies and I had the 
privilege of spending time with Jimmy Freeman's family and friends and 
commemorating with them his selfless dedication to duty.
  In 1969, Sergeant First Class Freeman was 27 years old. He was 
married, the father of three children, and a veteran of 10 years of 
Army service. When the year opened, he was posted in a remote region of 
the Mekong River Delta with another U.S. Army sergeant. They were to 
give military advice to local troops at Soc Trang.
  Only weeks after he arrived at the outpost, Freeman learned that his 
fourth child had died at birth and he took emergency leave to go back 
to Talladega. Given the choice of another assignment or returning to 
Vietnam, Freeman decided to return to his dangerous mission and to his 
fellow sergeant, Darrel E. Anderson, who had been left to bear their 
responsibilities alone.
  On March 24, 1969, a numerically superior force overran the small Soc 
Trang base camp and both Americans were killed in its defense. Both 
were awarded the Silver Star posthumously for gallantry in action, and, 
later, in a rare tribute to their bravery, their camp was designated as 
the Freeman-Anderson Compound.
  Freeman also was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. 
Prior to his death, he had received the Good Conduct Medal, National 
Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, 
and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
  The Alabama Military Hall of Honor selected Sergeant First Class 
Freeman for induction in 1990 and his name is enshrined there with the 
names of other Alabama heroes who have been selected for this permanent 
and visible tribute. The Hall of Honor is on the campus of Marion 
Military Institute.
  In a special tribute this year, Gov. Jim Folsom issued a proclamation 
proclaiming Jimmy Grant Freeman an Alabama Hero and urging that fellow 
Alabamians remember the sacrifice he made for his country and his 
fellow men.
  The Jimmy Grant Freeman story that I have recounted is a timeless 
tribute to one man's patriotism and his devotion to duty. In further 
tribute, I ask unanimous consent, Mr. Speaker, that Governor Folsom's 
proclamation be printed at this point in the Congressional Record.

                              Proclamation

       Whereas, to thousands of Vietnam veterans who were 
     stationed at Soc Trang during the war, the name SFC Jimmy 
     Grant Freeman is one which symbolizes heroism; and
       Whereas, to Freeman's family and members of the Conner-
     Davis VFW Post 4261 in Talladega, the name symbolizes the 
     unselfish dedication of a patriot to his country; and
       Whereas, during Vietnam in the year 1969, Freeman was 
     assigned to Mobile Advisory Team 71 at Soc Trang; just months 
     after he arrived in the war zone, he returned to Talladega on 
     emergency leave; and
       Whereas, given the choice to return to Vietnam or remain in 
     Talladega, Freeman chose to return and serve his country and 
     assist a fellow sergeant and friend, Darrel E. Anderson; and
       Whereas, Freeman and Anderson heroically defended their 
     camp but lost their lives when it was overrun by a Viet Cong 
     force; and
       Whereas, both men were posthumously awarded the Silver Star 
     for valor, and the Advisory Team 71 headquarters compound was 
     named in their honor; and
       Whereas, Freeman has also been inducted into the Alabama 
     Military Hall of Honor at Marion Military Institute; and
       Whereas, records of the heroic deeds of Freeman and more 
     than 100 other soldiers can be found in a book by Ray Bows, 
     Vietnam Military Lore 1959-1973 . . . Another Way to 
     Remember: and
       Whereas, in Talladega, the Conner-Davis VFW Post 4261 is 
     honoring Freeman and working to establish a Jimmy Grant 
     Freeman memorial; and
       Whereas, it is fitting that all Alabamians recognize the 
     contributions of Jimmy Grant Freeman to his country--
     contributions which culminated in the ultimate sacrifice--his 
     life: Now, therefore,
       I Jim Folsom, Governor of the State of Alabama, do hereby 
     proclaim Jimmy Grant Freeman an Alabama Hero and do urge 
     citizens of our great state to remember the great sacrifice 
     he made for his country and for his fellow men.

                          ____________________