Office of Archives and History

NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES OFFICE OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY

Military Collection State Archives of North Carolina

Joseph E. Freed Interview Summary

MilColl OH 296

Interviewee: Joseph E. Freed Interviewer: Iris Howell-de Nijs Interview Date: March 17, 2005; March 22, 2005 Interview Location: Raleigh, N.C. Interview Runtime: 2:35:50

Biographical Sketch

Joseph Edward Freed was born in April 29, 1937, in Connellesville, Pennsylvania, to Joseph and Alice Ringler Freed. He grew up in Connellesville as the oldest of three children. While a senior in high school, Freed enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves on March 2, 1955. Upon graduation from high school, Freed completed basic training at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, S.C.; then attended Infantry Training Battalion at Camp Lejeune, N.C. With the completion of his training, Freed was selected to attend Sea School in Boston, Massachusetts, and was assigned to sea duty aboard the USS Salem CA-139. While stationed with the Atlantic Fleet, Freed served on the flag staff of Admiral John S. McCain, Jr.

In 1958, Freed returned to Camp Lejeune and joined the 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He served at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, from 1958 to 1960. During this time, he was a security guard for President Dwight D. Eisenhower; a drill instructor at MCRD Parris Island from 1961 to 1963; and served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton, California, in late 1963. In March 1964, Freed was assigned to the 9th Marine Regiment stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and later at the Combined Arms Training Center (CATC) Camp Fuji in Gotemba, Japan. In September 1964, Freed’s platoon was sent on a mission at Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam; they returned to Okinawa in December 1964.

When Freed returned to the United States in 1965, he served as a drill instructor in San Diego, California, until he was selected to attend helicopter aviation training at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, N.C. Upon completion of his aviation training, he was transferred to Vietnam in March 1967—initially commissioned as an infantry platoon commander with the 4th Marine Regiment, stationed at Đông Hà Combat Base. After one

1 mission with his platoon, he served as a pilot in the 2nd Marine Air Wing; the 3rd Marine Air Wing; the U.S. Army 220th Aviation Company; and the U.S. Air Force 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron. He was stationed out of Phu Bai Combat Base, Khe Sanh Combat Base, and Da Nang Air Base during his tour. Freed returned to the United States at the end of 1968.

Upon his return to the U.S., Freed served as an instructor at MCAS New River from 1968 to 1970. Between 1970 and 1978, he served as a commanding officer of military police and a guard company at Camp Lejeune; attended Amphibious Warfare School (AWS) at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; served as a battalion operations officer in Okinawa, Japan; and was the assistant base security officer at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Freed retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in September 1978. He reached the rank of Major during his military career, and received three Purple Hearts for his service in the Vietnam War.

Following his military career, Freed worked as a corporate pilot in North Carolina. He married Sharon Hope May, with whom he had three children. He was the executive director of Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh from 1996 to 2011. At the time of this interview, Joseph E. Freed was living in Raleigh, N.C.

Interview Time Periods

MilColl OH 296A Interview Date: March 17, 2005 Interview Runtime: 1:34:14

Section A, 0:00:00-0:09:20:

Freed discusses why he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve; his family’s reaction to his enlistment in the military; basic training at MCRD Parris Island; and why he chose to decline aviation training so he could be an infantryman.

Section B, 0:09:21-0:25:20:

Freed discusses infantry training at Camp Lejeune. He discusses his sea duty aboard the USS Salem (CA-139), including his memories of his captain; the division between officers and enlisted men; and his desire to pursue aviation. He also discusses why he was assigned to the Naval War College; his duties at Norfolk; and his work as a security guard for President Eisenhower.

Section C, 0:25:21-0:37:02:

Freed discusses his service as drill instructor at MCRD Parris Island; his time at Camp Pendleton, Okinawa, and CATC Camp Fuji; and reenlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps on top of Mount Fuji. He discusses military actions in Vietnam, including his mission at Da Nang Air Base.

He also discusses the escalation of the Vietnam War; hostile fire pay; his combat experience during his mission at Da Nang Air Base; and what he knew at the time about the U.S. military’s mission in Vietnam.

Section D, 0:37:03-0:47:26:

Freed discusses his return to the United States on the USS General J. C. Breckinridge (AP-176); his feelings about the escalation of the Vietnam War; and his assignment as a drill instructor in San Diego, California. He also discusses volunteering for helicopter aviation training, and his aviation training at MCAS New River.

Section E, 0:47:27-1:04:36:

Freed discusses his service with the 4th Marine Regiment in Vietnam. He discusses why he was assigned to an infantry regiment, despite his aviation training; the platoon’s mission and combat casualties; his knowledge about the U.S. military mission in Vietnam; and his encounters with reporters (including Dan Rather) during his mission.

Section E, 1:04:37-1:18:22:

Freed discusses his transfer from infantry to aviation while in Vietnam. He discusses his feelings about this transfer; his emotions about leaving his infantry platoon; his missions when he was transferred to aviation; the aviation training received in Vietnam; his combat experiences; and the safety conditions at Đông Hà Combat Base.

Section F, 1:18:23-1:34:14:

Freed discusses a mission in July 1967, where he was wounded while flying a Huey helicopter.

MilColl OH 296B Interview Date: March 22, 2005 Interview Runtime: 1:01:36

Section A, 0:00:00-0:15:40:

Freed discusses the condition of his aircraft after the July 1967 mission that left him wounded. He discusses his perception of the U.S. military’s mission in the Vietnam War; his multiple wounds received during his tour of duty; his opinion of the medical care he received; and his encounters with female nurses.

He also discusses his service as an instructor at MCAS New River, including the subjects he taught; how his expertise and combat experience made him an ideal instructor; and his perception of the competition between “mustang” officers and those commissioned from a service academy.

Section B, 0:15:41-0:24:48:

Freed discusses his service at from 1970 to 1978, including his time at Camp Lejeune; Marine Corps Base Quantico; Okinawa, Japan; and MCAS Cherry Point. He discusses the importance of his schooling at Quantico; the structure of Marine Corps training and schools; his memories of his final tour in Okinawa; and his perception of the Vietnam War during this final tour.

Section C, 0:24:49-0:38:58:

Freed discusses his encounters with the anti-war activism when he returned from Vietnam in 1968. He discusses his general feelings towards anti-war activism, especially in relation to the 2005 protests at Fort Bragg, N.C.; his perception of China and North Korea as contemporary military threats to the United States; the Iraq War; and the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War.

Section D, 0:38:29-0:53:15:

Freed continues to discuss his service at MCAS Cherry Point from 1974 to 1978, including his participation in air shows. He also discusses the death of a fellow instructor during his time at MCAS New River in 1968; his work at Historic Oakwood Cemetery; some of his close calls in Vietnam; and the parallels of Khe Sanh Combat Base and Diem Bien Phu.

Section E, 0:53:16-1:01:36:

Freed discusses his family and post-military career.

Subjects

1st Marine Division 2nd Marine Air Wing 2nd Marine Division 3rd Marine Air Wing 3rd Marine Division Atlantic Fleet Boston, Massachusetts Camp Lejeune (Jacksonville, N.C.) Camp Pendleton (San Diego County, California) Combined Arms Training Center (CATC) Camp Fuji (Gotemba, Japan) Da Nang Air Base (South Vietnam) Đông Hà Combat Base (South Vietnam) Khe Sanh Combat Base (South Vietnam) Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point (Havelock, N.C.) Marine Corps Air Station New River (Jacksonville, N.C.) Marine Corps Base Quantico (Prince William County, Virginia) Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island (Port Royal, South Carolina) Naval War College (Newport, Rhode Island)

Okinawa, Japan Phu Bai Combat Base President Eisenhower South Vietnam U.S. Air Force 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron U.S. Army 220th Aviation Company U.S. Marine Corps U.S. Marine Corps Reserves USS General J. C. Breckinridge (AP-176) USS Salem (CA-139) Vietnam Vietnam War