On the Friday, Jan. 27, Major Robert Freyou conducted his final flight as a U.S. Army pilot. He departed from his home station of Libby Army Airfield at Fort Huachuca and landed in his hometown of Holbrook, where he was met by close family and friends to celebrate his upcoming retirement from the U.S. Army.
Major Freyou was born and raised by Craig and Lisa Freyou in Holbrook for most of his adolescence and graduated from Holbrook High School in May of 2002. Shortly after graduating, Freyou enlisted in the U.S. Army as a medical lab technician. He achieved the rank of staff sergeant during his enlisted career and was recognized as both a soldier and non-commissioned Officer of the Year. In 2008, he was selected for the Army’s Green to Gold Scholarship Program where he attended graduate school at Hawaii Pacific University and received a commission as an aviation officer in May of 2010.
He has dedicated over 20 years of service to the U.S. Army. His final assignment was the executive officer for the 304th Military Intelligence Battalion, United States Army Intelligence Center of Excellence at Fort Huachuca. Major Freyou served in multiple overseas duty assignments including Honolulu, Hawaii, Camp Humphreys, South Korea, and Constanta, Romania. He also completed two 12-month combat tours of duty, one to Iraq in support Operation Iraqi Freedom and one to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
During his tenure as an Army aviation officer, he had the honor and privilege to command two companies including B Company, 304th Military Intelligence Battalion for the Special Electronic Mission Aircraft Schoolhouse and the Aviation Company for the U.S. Army Parachute Team (Golden Knights).
He is a rated aviator in both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft and has served as a pilot-in-command for over five different Army fixed wing platforms and was one of the first five aviators selected to fly the Army’s first prototype Jet Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance aircraft.
His previous awards and decorations include the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Meritorious Service Medal with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal with two Bronze Knots, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral Four, NATO Medal, and Senior Army Aviator Badge.
Robert and his wife Sheila (Reyes) Freyou, also a native of Holbrook will be settling down in Queen Creek where they plan to continue raising their children, Shayna (15), Ayden (14), Isaac (11) and Chloe (7). Freyou will be transitioning from the military to a career as a first officer with American Airlines, where he hopes to fly for another 20-25 years.
