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<em>Jim Freeman's</em> life reached its tragic climax just a few days after he jumped into Normandy in June 1944. He was killed in action in the mightiest military effort his country has ever mounted. It is certain that Jim was proud to be a part of that great campaign; it is also certain that one of America’s finest young officers was lost in the grim struggle that followed the invasion.</div>
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Looking into the past, it would seem that Jim’s entire life was pointed toward a battlefield. Born in the Station Hospital at Camp Pike, he spent his boyhood at various Army posts in the United States. His father, Colonel J. W. Freeman. USA Ret., remembers that even as a youngster Jim showed a marked liking for the Army. One might almost say that he grew up to the tune of a military march, for as a very small boy he surprised everyone with a sense of rhythm developed by keeping step with parade music. As the years went by, he passed through High School ROTC at Omaha, and CMT Camp at old Fort Creek, Nebraska; and then, after a year at Doane College, on to West Point.</div>
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Jim was a natural success as a cadet. He combined the virtues of a keen, disciplined mind and a wiry, rugged physique, with a profound sense of integrity and duty. He applied himself with great diligence to his work, but he managed to find ample time for the more pleasant aspects of cadet life. Like many other cadets, Jim thoroughly enjoyed an evening walk around the Plain. It was Jim's custom to take a leisurely stroll after supper—in good weather and bad—in the company of his friends. Everyone who has shared such a walk with Jim Freeman will remember his quiet humor, his dry wit, his imagination and his vital interest in the world he lived in. He had a fine sense of satire, and he made many a laugh out of little incidents in the routine of life at USMA. Jim was a great “chuckler"—he would chuckle to himself as he told his friends of an incident that struck him as amusing.</div>
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Jim was a wrestler at USMA, and the wrestling uniform he wore earned him the nickname of "The Phantom. He seemed to like this name and, in a way, it was very fitting. Jim had a quiet charm about him that had an elusive quality to it.</div>
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On graduation, Jim was assigned to the Infantry. After going through the paratroop school, he was assigned to the 515th Parachute Infantry, where he rose to the position of battalion S-3. In early 1944, he was moved overseas to England to join the 507th Parachute Battalion. He jumped safely into Europe on D-day, but was killed on June 15, 1944. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.</div>
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His Bronze Star citation reads:</div>
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“James W. Freeman, 0-25706, First Lieutenant, 507th Parachute Infantry. For heroic conduct in action on 6th June 1944 near La Fiere, France. A composite group of approximately 100 paratroopers were defending an orchard position near the eastern approach to the bridge over the MEDERET River. The single 57mm AT gun located there had already knocked out two German tanks approaching on the causeway when German artillery zeroed on the position with overwhelming fire in an effort to knock out the gun. The troops went to cover, but First Lieutenant FREEMAN, with another officer and two enlisted men, stayed beside the gun with Thompson Sub-Machine Guns as protection for the gunners. Because this gun covered the only tank approach from AMFREVILLE available to the enemy, these two officers were determined to maintain it in action at any cost. Their example induced about twenty men to come from cover and man ATRL’s and LMG’s to further protect the area. The courageous determination of these officers kept the AT gun in action and prevented the German Tank Company of five tanks from crossing the causeway and penetrating our positions."</div>
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<em>—J. M. C.</em></div>
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