Hill 488 (Howard's Hill)

Site of 1966 standoff between 18 men of Charlie Co., 1st Recon Battalion, 1st Marine Division against PAVN forces. Patrol leader, Staff Sergeant Jimmy Howard earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. This was the most decorated small-unit engagement of the war. The hill was held against an enemy force that outnumbered them 20-1. Six Marines were killed and the rest were wounded. The hill was later used by the US Army and designated LZ East, an observation post and firebase.