The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SGT Jeffrey Alexander Freeman, who died in the service of his country on April 8th, 1970 in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Multi-Frag. At the time of his death Jeffrey was 25 years of age. He was from Lakewood, Ohio. Jeffrey is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 12W, Line 107.
The decorations earned by SGT Jeffrey Alexander Freeman include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.
The following is from the Cleveland Plain Dealer dated April 14, 1970
2 Lakewood Servicemen Die in Vietnam
2 Lakewood servicemen, one a successful yachtsman in civilian life and the other a former technician at WEW-TV have been killed in Vietnam war related incidents.
The yachtsman, Army Sgt. Jeffrey A. Freeman, 25, son of Dr. and Mrs. Leonard X. Freeman, 17401 Edgewater Drive, was killed in Vietnam last Wednesday while on a reconnaissance mission near An Khe in the Central Highlands.
Sgt. Freeman, who with his father belonged to the Cleveland Yachting Club, sailed his Lightning Class sailboat to victory in the 1967 Inter-Lake Regatta at Put-In-Bay. The elder Freeman is an optometrist with offices in Fairview Park.
Sgt Freeman was drafted in September 1968, just before he was scheduled to enter law school. He went to Vietnam last September, where he was a platoon sergeant with the Reconnaissance Platoon of the 35th Infantry Regiment's 2nd Battalion.
He became the 405th Greater Clevelander to die in combat there. His family was notified last Friday.
Sgt. Freeman was born here and was graduated from Lakewood High School in 1963 and from Miami University, Oxford, OH, in December 1967 with a degree in Political Science and pre-Law. During his junior high school years he was a carrier for the Plain Dealer.
Last year he married the former Mary Ellen Jontzen, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Lawrence G. Jontzen, 19720 Frazier Drive, Rocky River. They have a baby daughter.
Mrs. Freeman lives with her parents.
Also among survivors is the sergeant's sister, Sally Ruth, 20, currently studying in Spain.
Services, at a date to be determined will be held at Daniels Funeral Home, 15800 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, with burial in Lakewood Cemetery.
From the Cleveland Press dated April 14, 1970:
Viet War Toll Tops 500 as 2 More Die
The tragic toll of Greater Clevelanders killed in the Vietnam war now has passed the 500 mark.
The 500th casualty was especially tragic, a young Lakewood father who had seen his child only once and who had planned a career in law. He was Army Sgt. Jeffrey A. Freeman, 25.
Sgt. Freeman was killed last Wednesday during a combat mission in the central highlands of Vietnam.
He was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Leonard X. Freeman, 17401 Edgewater Dr., Lakewood, and the husband of the former Mary E. Jontzen, 19720 Frazier Dr., Rocky River. She now resides in Bay Village, with her baby, Kate, who will be one year old April 22nd.
Sgt. Freeman saw his daughter shortly before he went to Vietnam Last September.
He was drafted in September 1968, after receiving a degree in government form Miami University of Ohio and was planning to enter law school when his induction orders came. Kate was born seven months after he entered the service.
"Jeffrey was against the war," said his mother, "But he never tried to avoid the draft. Although he opposed the war, he loved his country."
He is also survived by a sister, Sally, attending the University of Madrid in Spain. Dr. Freeman is an optometrist. Both father and son were yachtsmen.
(Jeffrey's Obituary)
Freeman, Sgt. Jeffrey A.
Date: Apr 16 1970
Source:Cleveland Plain Dealer
Notes: Freeman. Sgt. Jeffrey A. Freeman, beloved husband of Mary (nee
Jontzen), father of Kate, son of Anthed and Dr. Leonard X. Freeman,
brother of Sally Freeman, grandson of Dr. Henry Freeman and Mrs. G.
Blake Alexander. Funeral Thursday, 11 a.m., of Daniels Funeral Home,
15800 Detroit Ave., Lakewood.
(From A Virtual Wall Post)
Posted for: JEFFREY ALEXANDER FREEMAN:
Jeff and I went to Lakewood [Ohio] High School together. He was a tall,dark-haired, kinda baby-faced, handsome guy. In the summer before
graduation, when the weather was nice, we would cut class together and go to the beach - Clifton Beach, on Lake Erie. We were just friends; we walked and talked and sat in the sand and looked out over the water. Talked about our lives, our futures. He had a dazzling smile and I liked him a lot. I never forgot him. His soft-spoken, gentle manner. I heard later that he had married and had a child. He was relatively old at the time he was killed in VN in 1970 - about 25. He must have finished college and then gone into the army. I visited him at the Wall in D.C. just before it officially opened in the early 1980's - experienced the incredible experience that is "the Wall". Touched his name with my hand as though I could reach out and bring back the past. We were so young. Eventually many of us tried to stop the war, but not before so many were lost. Jeff was a good and caring person. I think about him often.
Posted By:
Susan M.
Tuesday, April 06, 1999
Relationship: High School Friend
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