Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

433d Anti-Aircraft Artillery (Automatic Weapons) Battalion, 70th Infantry Division "Trailblazers", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

May 11th, 1945

Citation:
"For heroic achievement while serving with the 433d Anti-Aircraft Artillery (Automatic Weapons) Battalion, 70th Infantry Division, in action on 18 March 1945, near Klarenthal, Germany. Under direct enemy fire, Major Freund and another officer conducted a daylight reconnaissance near the Saar River to site anti-aircraft automatic weapons in support of infantry. When his fellow officer was seriously wounded, Major Freund carried him to safety and gave first aid. After the officer had been evacuated, he returned and completed the reconnaissance. On the following day, he repeatedly exposed himself while emplacing the guns and directing their fire. Major Freund's courageous action contributed greatly to the successful crossing of the Saar River."

Headquarters, 70th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 37 (May 11, 1945).

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

199th Infantry Brigade, II Field Force Vietnam, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

October 26th, 1967

Citation:
"For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light), during the period from July 1964 to September 1967."

Department of the Army, General Orders No. 46 (October 26, 1967).

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Brigadier General

Unit:

199th Infantry Brigade, II Field Force Vietnam, U.S. Army

Citation:
"For gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 7 August 1967, while serving as Commanding General, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light), in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, elements from the 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light) and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam were conducting a joint assault on an enemy force in the Hoc Mon District when General Freund was informed that several friendly soldiers had been wounded and six helicopters had been downed by enemy ground fire. Flying to the area, he located a number of the damaged helicopters and directed his pilot to land at each of the sites to determine if aid was needed. At one site where two helicopters had crashed near one another, the crew members had been subjected to enemy sniper fire which had wounded one soldier. General Freund instructed his pilot to land him at the crash site so that he could provide necessary assistance. After disembarking from the relative safety of the aircraft, he ordered the pilot back into the air to seek other injured personnel. Rapidly reconnoitering the area, General Freund moved to the beleaguered soldiers to personally bandage the wounded soldier. Satisfied that the man was not in serious condition, General Freund instructed the senior man how to place his men to most effectively defend the position. Throughout this period, General Freund was exposed to imminent hostile sniper fire. Despite this danger, General Freund continued his actions until he was certain that the men were properly positioned. Radioing for his pilot to land and pick him up, General Freund returned to the air, instructing his pilot to fly at a low level over the dense jungle foliage to locate any additional wounded soldiers who might have strayed into the thick undergrowth. While circling the area, he spotted two crew members located about one hundred fifty meters in front of the friendly forces, a location extremely susceptible to action by enemy soldiers in the vicinity. Courageously descending to tree top level, he motioned for the soldiers to conceal themselves until a rescue could be attempted. After calling for gunships to provide covering fire, General Freund instructed the pilot to land in the battle area to extract the soldiers. The helicopter descended, hovering about two feet above the ground. As he was about to jump from the aircraft, the enemy unleashed a hail of automatic and small arms fire from concealed positions on both sides of the aircraft. Realizing that further rescue efforts would seriously endanger the lives of the crew members and might result in destruction of the aircraft, he reluctantly directed the mission to be discontinued. As his helicopter gained altitude, it was struck by savage enemy ground fire, severely wounding himself and his aide-de-camp. After alerting the ground crew at Saigon to have an ambulance waiting for his profusely bleeding aide, General Freund personally administered emergency first aid. Although his own wound was extremely painful, General Freund refused medical treatment, insisting that his aide was more urgently in need of attention than himself. As a result of his quick thinking and rapid actions, the life of his aide was saved and needless additional casualties were avoided. General Freund's courageous actions in the face of an armed enemy force were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."

Rank:

Colonel

Citation:
"For exceptionally meritorious service while serving in a position of responsibility as a Member of the General Purpose Forces Branch, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Special Studies Group, J5, Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Chiefs of Staff, from July 1962 to May 1964. Through his professional skill, foresight, diplomacy, and steadfast devotion to duty, Colonel Freund contributed materially to military studies for the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense. He was primarily responsible for the timely preparation and presentation of major portions of many studies, including the development of several general purpose force studies which had a significant impact on policy at national and international levels. His professional knowledge, diligence, and discernment, combined with his inspiring leadership, wholehearted efforts, and sound judgment, insured the successful completion of studies of great importance to the defense posture of the Nation. Colonel Freund's distinguished performance of duty throughout this period represents outstanding achievement in the most cherished traditions of the United States Army and reflects the utmost credit upon himself and the military service."