| Year Honored | |
|---|---|
| 2012 | |
| Honoree | |
| James R. Freudenberg | |
| Title | |
| Pilot | |
| Agency | |
| LifeNet-St. Joseph | |
| Agency City | |
| St. Joseph | |
| Agency State | |
| MO | |
| Last Call | |
| 8/26/11 | |
| Cause of Death | |
| Medical Aviation Accident | |
| Biography | |
| "James was a big, strong guy who you'd want on your side in a fight, but who was also a big softie." He was born June 10, 1977 in Gordon, Nebraska. He graduated from Wright High School in Wyoming in 1996, where he ran track and played on the basketball and football teams. James went on to attend Black Hills State University in Spearfish where he also ran track and played football. After the attacks on 9/11, James decided to join the United States Army. In the Army he was able to combine his love for flying and his desire to serve and defend his country. He served as an Apache pilot for eight years and served two tours in Iraq, where his distinguished service earned him the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and two Air Medals. James loved to fly, and he was "damn good at it!" Holly, James' wife, noted that she could tell just from the excitement in his voice when he flew and when he didn't. "He was always happier when he got to spend some time in the air." It was his love of flying that then led him to Air Methods.<br /> When his time in the Army was up, James decided to stay home and not re-up so he could be with his family. James loved sports and lived and breathed Nebraska football. He so enjoyed football that he started refereeing high school games in his community. He also enjoyed working on cars. An unfinished 1953 Chevy truck he was restoring still sits in his garage.<br /> <br /> James was a big guy with an even bigger heart, always willing to help. He was good under pressure, was capable, and could handle anything. When James said he would do something, it got done. James and Holly were "foster parents" for the humane society and were expecting their first child. On the night of August 26, 2011 James, age 34 was the pilot of a flight transporting a patient from Bethany, Missouri to Liberty, Missouri. About 7:00 p.m., the Eurocopter AS-350, known as LifeNet 2-2, crashed in a field about 20 miles northeast of Kansas City. There were no survivors.<br /> <br /> James and Holly's daughter, Reagan James, was born in November.<br /> <br /> Honored 2012 |
The United States Official National EMS Memorial Service
