A Medal of Honor & Citation Document to Gunnery Sergeant Howard for the Defense of Hill 488

 

Footnote: Jimmie Earl Howard was born on July 27, 1929 in Burlington, Iowa. He graduated from high school in Burlington in 1949 and attended the University of Iowa for one year prior to enlisting in the United States Marine Corps on July 12, 1950. He received recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, in San Diego, California. He was promoted to Private First Class upon graduation from recruit training in January 1951, then remained at the Recruit Depot as a drill instructor until December 1951. After completing advanced infantry training in February 1952, he was ordered to Korea where he was assigned duty as a forward observer with the 4.2” Mortar Company, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was a promoted to Corporal in March 1952. For his service in Korea, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart with Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart, and the Navy Unit Commendation. He was a Corporal with the Mortar Company, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced), when he was awarded the Silver Star for actions that took place from August 12 to 15, 1952 during the Korean War, his citation stating: "The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Jimmie Earl Howard (MCSN: 1130610), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while attached to the 4.2" Mortar Company, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), and serving as a Forward Observer of a rifle company in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea from 12 to 15 August 1952. During the defense of an important hill position, Corporal Howard called in and directed effective fire for friendly mortar and artillery positions, materially strengthening the defense of the position. Although occupied with the duties of forward observer, he participated in deadly hand to hand combat with the enemy to maintain his forward observation post and, although subsequently relieved for rest, sided in evacuating the wounded and in carrying vitally needed supplies to his comrades. Later, although knocked unconscious by the concussion from an enemy mortar shell, he recovered sufficiently to continue to perform his duties and, after being felled again by another mortar shell was evacuate don account of the severity of his condition. By his outstanding courage, initiative and unyielding devotion to duty, Corporal Howard served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." Upon his return to the United States in April 1953, Corporal Howard served as Tactics Instructor, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, Marine Corps Base, at Camp Pendleton, California. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, he was promoted to Sergeant in June 1953. In March 1954, Sgt Howard joined the Marine Detachment on board the USS Oriskany (CVA-34), as a squad leader. The following January, he returned to Camp Pendleton and served as a squad leader, 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company. The 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company was redesignated 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, and Sgt Howard remained with this unit until September 1957. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant (SSgt) in May 1956. From September 1957 until April 1960, he served as Special Services Chief and a military policeman with Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton. after being transferred to San Francisco, California, Staff Sergeant Howard was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division. He served as Special Services Noncommissioned Officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines and later, as a platoon guide and platoon sergeant with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. Reassigned to the Recruit Depot, San Diego, in August 1961, he joined Guard Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion and served as Guard Noncommissioned Officer, Company First Sergeant and administrative man, respectively. He later became Depot Special Service Assistant, Headquarters Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion there, and served in the latter capacity until October 1964. The following month, he returned to Camp Pendleton, and was assigned to the 1st Marine Division. He saw duty as Regimental Special Services Noncommissioned Officer with Headquarters Battery, 11th Marine Regiment and in January 1965, becoming an instructor, Counterguerrilla Warfare Course, Division Schools Center, Subunit #1, with Headquarters Battalion until March 1966. From April until June 1966, Staff Sergeant Howard served as a platoon leader, with Company C, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division. During the Vietnam War, on the evening of June 13, 1966, Staff Sergeant Howard along with his platoon of fifteen Marines and two Navy corpsmen were dropped behind enemy lines atop Hill 488. The mission of this recon unit was to observe enemy troop movements in the valley and call in air and artillery strikes. Within days, the enemy descended on them in force. On the night of June 15, 1966, a full battalion of Viet Cong (over 300 men) were engaging the squad of eighteen. After receiving severe wounds from an enemy grenade, Howard distributed ammunition to his men and directed air strikes on the enemy. By dawn, his beleaguered platoon still held their position. During the twelve hours of attack, 200 enemy troops were killed with the loss of six American lives. He was a Gunnery Sergeant with Company "C", 1st Force Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced), United States Marine Corps when he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Hill 488, his citation reading: "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to GUNNERY SERGEANT JIMMIE E. HOWARD UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS" for service as set forth in the following CITATION: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a Platoon Leader, Company "C", First Reconnaissance Battalion, First Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, in action against communist insurgent forces in Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 16 June 1966. During the night Gunnery Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Howard's platoon of eighteen men was assaulted by a numerically superior force consisting of a well-trained North Vietnamese Battalion employing heavy small-arms fire, automatic weapons and accurate mortar fire. Without hesitation he immediately organized his platoon to personally supervise the precarious defense of Hill 488. Utterly oblivious to the unrelenting fury of hostile enemy weapons fire an hand grenades he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire while directing the operation of his small force. As the enemy attack progressed and the enemy fire increased in volume and accuracy and despite his mounting casualties, Gunnery Sergeant Howard continued to set an example of calmness and courage. Moving from position to position, he inspired his men with dynamic leadership and courageous fighting spirit until he was struck and painfully wounded by fragments from an enemy hand grenade. Unable to move his legs and realizing that his position was becoming untenable, he distributed his ammunition to the remaining members of platoon and skillfully directed friendly aircraft and artillery strikes with uncanny accuracy upon the enemy. Dawn found the beleaguered force diminished by five killed and all but one wounded. When rescue helicopters proceeded to Gunnery Sergeant Howard's position, he directed them away from his badly mauled force and called additional air strikes and directed devastating small-arms fire on the enemy thus making the landing zone secure as possible. His valiant leadership and courageous fighting spirit served to inspire the men of his platoon to heroic endeavor in the face of overwhelming odds, and reflected the highest credit upon Gunnery Sergeant Howard, the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service." In his book Hill 488, Ray Hildreth, who served alongside Howard in Vietnam, remembered him fondly: "Howard was a John Wayne type of guy. A hard slab of a man with a poker face … he walked into an area and you could almost hear the theme song from The Sands Of Iwo Jima." Jimmie Howard's patrol in Vietnam in the action that earned him the Medal of Honor, may have been the most decorated unit in history, earning eighteen Purple Hearts, four Navy Crosses, and thirteen Silver Stars in addition to Howard's Medal of Honor. In addition to receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions on Hill 488, Howard received a gold star in lieu of a third Purple Heart for wounds received on June 16, 1966. A list of his medals and decorations includes: the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart with two Gold Stars in lieu of second and third awards, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars, the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, the Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star, the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. As a result of his heroic actions, Howard became the sixth United States Marine to be awarded the Nation’s highest honor for heroism in combat in Vietnam, the Medal of Honor presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson in White House ceremonies on August 21, 1967, with Howard's wife and six children in attendance, along with the survivors of the heroic stand on Hill 488. Upon his return to the United States, he was assigned duty as Battalion Training Noncommissioned Officer, Service Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, in San Diego, California. Howard retired from the Marine Corps on March 31, 1977 in the rank of First Sergeant. Following his retirement, Howard lived in San Diego, California and worked for the local Veterans Affairs office. Howard became involved in coaching/volunteering for Point Loma High School. He was a coach for the Point Loma High School football team that went undefeated in 1987 and won the San Diego Section CIF championship. He was also a coach for Point Loma High School football team that won the CIF championship again in 1991. When asked why he liked coaching, Coach Howard stated the men he lost in combat were relatively the same age as the high school football players and it reminded him of them. He died on November 12, 1993 at his home in San Diego, California, at the age of 64. He was buried in the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.