General Paul Lamar Freeman, Jr.

Paul Lamar Freeman Jr. was born June 29, 1907, in the Philippine Islands. He graduated from the United States Military Academy (USMA) on June 13, 1929, followed by his commission in the infantry.

Early Military Posts

His first assignment was at Fort Sam Houston with the 9th Infantry Regiment. While in Texas, he married Mary Ann Fishburn on August 18, 1932, and had one daughter. Soon after, he reported to Fort Benning, Georgia to attend the Officer's Course at the Infantry School. He was then assigned to Tianjin (then called Tientsin) in China with the 15th Infantry Regiment remaining there until 1936. Upon his return to the United States he was assigned to Fort Washington, Maryland as a company commander in the 12th Infantry Regiment. He took the Tank Course at Fort Benning and spent a year as company and battalion Maintenance Officer with the 66th Infantry Regiment.

World War II

Freeman was in China when the United States entered World War II and he was assigned to the United States Military Mission to China. Soon thereafter he was reassigned to the staff of the China Burma India Theater as an instructor to the Chinese and Indian Armies where he remained until September 1943. He returned to Washington D.C. and in 1944 was sent to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as Director of Arms Training for the Joint Brazil-United States Military Commission where he remained until October 1947.

Post WWII

He returned to the Army General Staff in Washington D.C., working in the Latin American Branch of the Plans and Operating Division from 1948 to 1950 and served as a member of the Joint Brazil-United States Military Commission. Freeman was also a member of the United States Army delegation to the Inter-American Defense Board.

Korean War

Freeman went to Korea as the Commander of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.

Leadership. He led the retreat from Kunu-ri in November 1950. Then 23rd Regimental Combat Team in the Battle of the Twin Tunnels on 1 February 1951. Command during the Battle of Chipyong-ri from 13 to 15 February 1951.

At Chipyong-ni the 23rd RCT was cut off and surrounded by elements of five Chinese divisions, which launched fanatical all-out assaults against them. Freeman was wounded on the first night of the engagement by mortar shrapnel in his left calf. Although he expected to return to the 23rd Infantry Regiment after his wounds healed, he did not resume command of the regiment, having been returned to the US to recover.

Post Korea

Following the Korean War, he attended the National War College, graduating in 1952. In 1955, he assumed command of the 2nd Infantry Division, and in 1956 took command of the 4th Infantry Division, which at that time was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. After his second division command ended in 1957, he served as Senior Army Member to the Weapons System Evaluation Group in Washington D.C. He was named Deputy Commanding General for Reserve Forces (CONARC) in 1960.

General Freeman

On May 1, 1962 Freeman received his fourth star, and assumed duties as Commander in Chief, United States Army Europe/Commander, Central Army Group, serving in that capacity until 1965. His final assignment was Commanding General, United States Continental Army Command from 1965 to 1967. Freeman retired from the army in 1967.

Awards

Distinguished Service Cross

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS During Korean War
Service: Army

Rank: Colonel

Division: 2d Infantry Division

GENERAL ORDERS:

Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 379 (June 1, 1951)

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Colonel (Infantry) Paul Lamar Freeman, Jr. (ASN: 0-17704), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of the 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Colonel Freeman distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of the Twin Tunnels area south of Chipyong-ni, Korea, during the period from 31 January 1951 through 15 February 1951. On 31 January 1951, Colonel Freeman was ordered to move his regimental combat team to the vicinity of the Twin Tunnels area south of Chipyong-ni and prevent the enemy from occupying the area. Colonel Freeman, with two battalions, entered the Twin Tunnels area without effecting contact with the enemy in the late afternoon of 31 January 1951. Realizing that the enemy forces were not yet emplaced, he deployed his troops in a tight defensive perimeter for the night. At 0450 hours on 1 February 1951, the enemy struck, pressing the attack with such fury that the regimental lines were penetrated in two places. The fighting was intense and the issue hung in the balance throughout the day; however, under the skillful leadership and personal example Colonel Freeman, the task force finally succeeded in routing the enemy at bayonet point, shattering two regiments of the 125th Chinese Communist Division. When the hostile force had been dispersed, 2,855 enemy dead were counted in front of the regimental positions. Reorganizing the combat team, Colonel Freeman led his command forward and occupied positions surrounding the town of Chipyong-ni, a critical point in the United Nations defense line. On the night of 13 February 1951, the enemy struck those positions with overwhelming fury, employing five divisions in the assault. For forty-eight hours the enemy pressed the attack, striking at all sides of the friendly perimeter and placing intense mortar end artillery fire on the positions. Skillfully directing the defense and personally exposing himself to the intense hostile fire to restore breaks in the line, Colonel Freeman so inspired his troops that they successfully routed the fanatically superior hostile force and counted over 5,000 enemy casualties surrounding their positions at the conclusion of the engagement. Although wounded in the final phase of the engagement, he reorganized the combat team and deployed it in defense of the secured area.

Distinguished Service Medal

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS During Vietnam War
Service: Army

GENERAL ORDERS:

Department of the Army, General Orders No. 33 (July 26, 1967)

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to General Paul Lamar Freeman, Jr. (ASN: 0-17704), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility, during the period from May 1962 to June 1967. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Freeman and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Silver Star

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS During Korean War
Service: Army

Division: 2d Infantry Division

GENERAL ORDERS:

Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division, General Orders 117 (1950)

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel (Infantry) Paul Lamar Freeman, Jr. (ASN: 0-17704), United States Army, for gallantry in action as Commanding Officer, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 3 September 1950 in the vicinity of Changnyong, Korea. On that date the 3d Battalion of his regiment had positions astride a road which was serving as the Main Supply Route for enemy forces in that area. The enemy during the preceding several days had been probing our defensive lines by repeated attacks in strength at various positions and had created weak points in the line. By 3 September 1950 it appeared that an enemy breakthrough of critical proportions was imminent along the line held by a rifle company of his regiment. Upon receiving intelligence of this situation, Colonel Freeman immediately went forward to the threatened area. Here he fearlessly and repeatedly exposed himself to the hostile artillery and small arms fire which fell all about him. Moving from position to position he personally reorganized the disheartened troops, who observing their commander's fearless actions, were inspired to greater efforts. Under his superb leadership the inspired troops rallied and stiffened, hurling back the enemy assault. As a result of Colonel Freeman's intrepid leadership and immediate grasp of a critical situation, the enemy was delayed until his regiment could launch a counterattack. The gallantry, high devotion to duty, and exceptional tactical ability displayed by Colonel Freeman reflect great credit upon himself and fully uphold the finest traditions of the military service.

Silver Star (Oak Leaf)

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS During Korean War
Service: Army

Division: 2d Infantry Division

GENERAL ORDERS:

Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 38 (February 12, 1951)

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Colonel (Infantry) Paul Lamar Freeman, Jr. (ASN: 0-17704), United States Army, for gallantry in action as Commanding Officer, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy from 27 November 1950 to 30 November 1950, in the vicinity of Kunu-ri, Korea. During that period the division was fighting a bitter withdrawing action to prevent encirclement by numerically superior enemy forces. Colonel Freeman's regiment was given the mission of conducting rear guard actions to cover the withdrawal of the remainder of the division. Throughout the period he placed himself well within range of hostile automatic weapons and mortar fire to insure first hand knowledge of the friendly and enemy situation. On the night of 27 November 1950, Colonel Freeman, with complete disregard for his own safety, personally directed the deployment of the rear guard elements. His presence coupled with his composure under fire served to inspire his men to such heights that they successfully fought off repeated fanatical attacks from enemy forces overwhelmingly superior to them in numbers. Again on 30 November 1950, after all other elements of the division had withdrawn from the Kunu-ri area, and it appeared impossible to extricate his regiment without sustaining almost total loss of personnel and equipment, Colonel Freeman planned and supervised the execution of a daring maneuver which caught the enemy unaware and saved the regiment from certain annihilation. Throughout these operations, Colonel Freeman's coolness under fire and his magnificent example of leadership instilled the confidence in h is men necessary for the successful execution of the most difficult of military operations. Colonel Freeman's gallantry and great tactical ability during these engagements were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Legion of Merit

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS During World War II
Service: Army

GENERAL ORDERS:

United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

Colonel (Infantry) Paul Lamar Freeman, Jr. (ASN: 0-17704), United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 1944 to 1945. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Freeman and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army.