Former bobsledder killed in Iraq

sportschick · Jan 24, 2007

I'm sure this will turn ugly quickly, which is why I'm putting it here instead of the news board.

My thoughts are with his family.

Former bobsled, skeleton racer killed in Iraq
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Capt. Brian S. Freeman, a former member of the Army World Class Athlete Program who competed in both bobsled and skeleton with the United States national team, was killed last week in Iraq, officials said.
Freeman, 31, was among five Americans killed Saturday after an ambush by gunmen dressed as U.S. troops near Karbala, Iraq, defense officials said.
Members of the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton teams learned of Freeman’s death this week while preparing for the world championships, which begin in St. Moritz, Switzerland on Thursday.
â€œHe was one of the greatest men I have ever known,â€ said World Cup overall bobsled leader and 2006 Olympian Steven Holcomb, who was in the WCAP program with Freeman. â€œThe time I spent with Brian not only made me a better person, but a better athlete. He was a brilliant, honorable humanitarian.â€
Freeman was 16th in the 2003 U.S. skeleton national championships. He won a bronze medal as a four-man sled brakeman at a 2002 America’s Cup race, teaming with two-time Olympian Mike Kohn.
â€œBrian will always be remembered for his willingness to ride with any driver so that the driver could gain more valuable experience driving the track, even if that meant crashing a few times,â€ U.S. Skeleton National Program Manager Steve Peters said. â€œAs a result, many of those drivers later went on to make future World Cup teams and the 2006 Olympic team.â€
Freeman was assigned to the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion, based in Whitehall, Ohio, defense officials said.
He was born in Bakersfield, Calif. and later settled in Temecula, Calif., said his father, Randy Freeman. The 1999 West Point graduate was on active reserve.
His awards include two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, a National Defense Service Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He also earned Combat Action, Air Assault, Parachutist and Marksmanship Qualification badges.
â€œHe had a fantastic sense of humor that made you want to be around him all the time,â€ World Cup skeleton slider Bree Schaaf-Boyer said. â€œThis isn’t just the loss of a close friend of the bobsled and skeleton community, it’s the loss of an amazing person, father, husband and son.â€
Freeman is survived by his wife and two children, ages 3 and 1.
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Former bobsledder killed in Iraq

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