(WBIR- Gatlinburg) A Vietnam War veteran received the Silver Star Sunday for his heroic actions in heavy combat 48 years ago.
Former Army Sgt. Larry F. Freeman of Pulaski, Virginia accepted the honor, the United States’ third highest military decoration for valor, in front of family and friends at the River Terrace Resort and Convention Center in Gatlinburg. It’s the place he and his fellow veterans have reunited for more than a decade.
“It’s just a real honor for me to know Larry and help get this award for him after 48 years,” Lt. Col. Howard Lavy, U.S. Army (Ret), said about his fellow member of the 1st Bn, 27th Infantry Regiment.
Freeman said Lt. Peter Schnizer, his platoon leader, first nominated him for the award in 1966. But the original recommendation for the Silver Star was never formally submitted due to an administrative oversight.
Schnizer found the award packet in 2005, Freeman said, and began pursuing the award on his behalf. And though Schnizer died in 2012, Lt. Col. Lavy continued to pursue the Silver Star for Freeman.
“It brings great closure not only to Larry, but to the other gentleman in our platoon that are surviving because we’re finally able to see him recognized for what he did to help save not only us but other members of the platoon,” Lavy said.
Freeman earned the Silver Star for his gallantry in action with the Alpha Company of the 1st Bn, 27th Infantry Regiment (The Wolfhounds) on July 19, 1966.
Freeman said his platoon started the day with 33 soldiers, but ended the day with only nine. Freeman, wounded in combat that day, has also received a Purple Heart because of that battle.
“It’s one of those acts of bravery that everybody’s not capable of doing,” Lavy said. “If you’re wounded you can’t do certain things, but Larry, his wound allowed him to continue working to save the rest of the platoon.”
Freeman said he had forgotten Lt. Schnizer nominated him for the award until a few years ago, when Lt. Schnizer called to say the award packet had never been submitted.
“I don’t know what I [did] that was gallant,” Freeman said. “I [did] my job. I tried to save lives, and I did everything that I could do to get us out of the situation that we were in.”
In addition to receiving the Silver Star Sunday, Freeman also celebrated his birthday.
“The people that love me are here, and the people I love are here,” Freeman said. “And it’s just a blessing all the way around that it worked out the way that it did.”
