Drastically outnumbered, an 18-man Marine Recon Team held off a determined unit of NVA regulars throughout the night. Outgunned, the enemy soldiers were intent on overrunning them and killing everyone on the hilltop. Read this article to see how it played out.
In June of 1966 Marine Reconnaissance teams were being sent out to look for enemy movements in the area west of the Chu Lai Marine Base. One of those teams was an 18-man patrol from Charlie Co. 1st Recon, lead by then Staff Sgt. Jimmie Howard. They were inserted by helicopter to the top of Hill 488, some 20 miles west of Chu Lai.
They didn’t know it then, but this patrol would become the most highly decorated single unit in the Vietnam War.
On June 13, shortly after they had been inserted on top of Hill 488, they began to spot enemy activity. They were supported by an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 105mm howitzer battery. They called in artillery missions on those movements. Two days later, they spotted even more enemy movements and again began calling in artillery missions. It became obvious to the enemy troops that they were being observed and they had a fair idea as to where they were being observed from as well.
It was shortly after that when Staff Sgt. Howard reported on the radio that there were squads of NVA force, later identified as being from the 3rd NVA Regiment, that were beginning to move toward his position on top of Hill 488.
In the total darkness, just after midnight on June 15th, 1966 the NVA began probing the Recon team’s position. One of the Navy Hospital Corpsman with the team, B.C. Holmes, recalled, “They were within 20 feet of us. Suddenly there were grenades all over the place. People started hollering. Guys were getting hit at the same time.”
In other words, all hell broke loose for this 18 man Recon team, which was clearly outnumbered. But they fought back with a ferocity that would later be recognized by the Marines that were airlifted out to help them get out of that mess.
GUNNERY SERGEANT JIMMIE E. HOWARD. SOURCE: U.S. MARINES
“You’ve got to get us out of here,” he told Sullivan. “There are too many of them for my people.”
Things couldn’t have been worse for Howards Recon team. They were running out of ammo. In fact, they started throwing rocks at the enemy, hoping that they would think that they were grenades.
During the night, Howard himself was hit in the back by AK-47 rifle fire. This temporarily paralyzed his legs, but not his spirit. He dragged himself from position to position throughout the night, encouraging his men, keeping them in the fight, even though every last one of them had been wounded.
Every one of the Recon Marines and Corpsmen had been wounded, most more than one time. The Marines from C/1/5 counted 42 dead NVA around the Recon position. In this fight, the Marines suffered 10 KIA, including 2 from C/1/5 and 2 from one of the Huey squadrons, meaning that 6 of the 18 Charlie, 1st Recon team members were among those KIA.
All 18 men were awarded for their valor that night on top of Hill 488.
The Veterans Site sends its respect to the Reconner Marines and Hospital Corpsmen of C Co., 1st Recon Bn. You are the epitome of the Marine Corps motto of, “Semper Fi!” We will never forget.
SF,
We did what had to be done to stay alive and fight back on Hill 488. That included using AK’s from their dead. I can only think GOD I am still alive.
Foubar
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True hero’s
Remarkably brave young men
May we never forget there sacrifice
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On Hastings my squad of 8 Marines with 2 60mm mortars were surrounded by General Giaps elite division and we set our mortars at 180* and 36 hours later were taken to hill 362 and we had illumination all night long! It’s documented because our CO Reiss Tatum remembers that operation
Sent from my iPhone
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Unreal! But most of these accounts are!
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>
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The Vietnam Vets were all heroes in my opinion—-fighting a war that was so criticized. The presidents that led this war should have been like President Trump was, but they were too afraid to buck the commies and go on the offensive. In the meantime, our vets got the raw deal trying to defend rather than take the offensive instead. True heroes!
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Bruce, I am a decorated Vietnam Veteran. Donald Trump in no way represents my values or those I fought with.
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Amazing! The location, 20 miles West of Chi Lai, would put them in Heip Duc valley. This valley would later (1967) would be labeled Death Vallet. The 196th Light Infantry Brigade (assigned to Americal Division) would move to hill 455 which appears to be the North said of the picture in this article). Many of our infantry (4/32 & 3/21) would die in this area. It was some of the bloodiest battles that few are written about (but read Through the Valley). One day in January 1968, just after our battles that were preliminary to the ’68 Tet Offense, we had five Marines waking through our perimeter. We were in the area to help the Marines. In response to a request for support, the Marines sent this squad stating that was needed. I don’t know if that what they could afford to give or it was the officer’s opinion, but after all, they were in the heat of the battle for the area themselves. The grenadier was at the end of the squad without ammo. I asked and he replied that was without, so I told him to wait a minute and tossed him a bandoleer of M-79 ammo. With a big grin and equal thanks he quickly followed the squad into the valley. I have often wondered how he made it, but he was not the first to run out of ammo or water in the Heip Duc valley. The valley earned its name, but at the cost of tens of thousands of NVA regular soldiers.
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Very moving article and beautifully written. I am a Army Vietnam vet that served 70-71 stationed at Bearcat. I never experienced what these guys went through and the good Lord brought me through that experience. AO is now taking what’s left of me but I will fight it to the very end.
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Stay the course Ken Johnson. Your battle today is much of many VN Vets. I honor you and have you in my prayers.
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Bad asses. Was in a few firefights there but nothing like this.
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This article very well written, it puts you in the middle of the fight!
18 Recon Marines against a Regiment of NVA seemed like a fair fight!! Hoorah!
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I have said this publicly and I believe this deep down… Hero’s are not born heroes, hero’s are not sports stars or politicians… Hero’s are everyday folks who do everyday things all of their lives, but when danger strikes, they rise far above most, facing danger in extraordinary ways, their selfless courage to help others at great risk to themselves…. They are what makes those who serve stand proud in the company of these Hero’s… Salute to them all 55 years later, they are still heroes to me and all of my combat veteran brothers… You are all Heroes to me, this group especially so… Michael Doolittle Chairman, Hawai’i County Veterans Advisory Committee http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/boards-and-commissions Chairman, Hawai’i Island Veterans Memorial Inc. http://www.hawaiiislandveterans.org
Mystic Palms Plantation P.O.Box 342 Hakalau, Hawaii 96710 206 719 8916
On Sun, Feb 14, 2021 at 9:19 AM CherriesWriter – Vietnam War website wrote:
> pdoggbiker posted: ” Drastically outnumbered, an 18-man Marine Recon Team > held off a determined unit of NVA regulars throughout the night. Outgunned, > the enemy soldiers were intent on overrunning them and killing everyone on > the hilltop. Read this article to see how it play” >
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Outstanding Marines! SF
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The Recon unit was the best example of how our soldiers training an esprit decor took care of each other
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Reblogged this on CherriesWriter – Vietnam War website.
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Great story
On Sun, Feb 14, 2021, 1:20 PM CherriesWriter – Vietnam War website wrote:
> pdoggbiker posted: ” Drastically outnumbered, an 18-man Marine Recon Team > held off a determined unit of NVA regulars throughout the night. Outgunned, > the enemy soldiers were intent on overrunning them and killing everyone on > the hilltop. Read this article to see how it play” >
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