Randall Gaylord Freeman

Randall Freeman grew up in Sac City and graduated from high school there in 1966. He was active in athletics and known for his good humor. After working at home in the family service station for nearly two years, he enlisted in the Army and trained as a Huey helicopter pilot. He arrived in Vietnam May 1970 and was assigned to 326th Medical Battalion, 101st Aviation Battalion. Freeman flew as a “dustoff” (MEDEVAC) pilot out of Camp Eagle northwest of Da Nang. He went into “hot” landing zones almost daily, but it was bad weather and mountainous terrain that led to a crash into a mountain side on December 14, 1970 that killed all five members of the crew. Warrant Officer Freeman received the Bronze Star and Air Medal for his service. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Sac City.