The Des Moines County Freedom Rock was installed in summer/fall of 2020. Donations still being accepted.
510 Main Street
Mediapolis, IA
52637
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The City of Mediapolis is proud to host the site for Des Moines County’s Freedom Rock; located right in front of City Hall. The fully landscaped plaza is anticipating a dedication and completion in Fall 2020. Bubba spent July 2020 in town painting the beautiful rock.
“The Freedom Rock Tour, created by the artist of The Freedom Rock; Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II, aims to boost tourism and spread the message of thanking our Veterans while providing a unique to their area Freedom Rock for all 99 counties in the great state of Iowa.” (www.thefreedomrock.com/iowa-fr-tour/)
The story behind the scenes depicted on the Des Moines County Freedom Rock; composed by Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II from The Freedom Rock: “When I illustrate these specific stories, my hope is that they catapult the conversation onto the many others who served in the same theater or who earned the same medal, and so on. My intent is highlight these stories and history that’re interesting to me to be a reminder of the service and sacrifice of all who served, not just those who’ve been painted. With Jimmie’s story, my colleague who I serve alongside at the statehouse, Representative Stan Gustafson who served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps and had a supporting role in the battle for Hill 488, losing a good friend on that hill. Stan mentioned the idea of Jimmie and Hill 488 for the Des Moines County Freedom Rock and I thought it would be a great addition.
Jimmie Howard was a Marine Corps staff sergeant when he led an eighteen-man reconnaissance patrol in a fierce battle against a battalion of Viet Cong in June 1966. Born July 27, 1929, in Burlington, Iowa, and graduated from high school there in 1949. He attended the University of Iowa for one year prior to enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. After completing advanced infantry training, 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. 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. In Vietnam on June 13, 1966, Howard and his platoon of 15 Marines along with two Navy corpsmen were dropped behind enemy lines atop Hill 488. The mission of this reconnaissance 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) engaged the squad of 18. After receiving severe wounds from an enemy gr***de, Howard distributed ammunition to his men and directed air strikes on the enemy. By dawn, his beleaguered platoon still held their position. During the 12 hours of combat, 200 enemy troops were killed as against the loss of six American lives. 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. Members of Howard's platoon were decorated for their actions in this fight with four Navy Crosses and thirteen Silver Stars. In his book Hill 488, Ray Hildreth – who served alongside Howard in Vietnam – remembered: "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."
