A multi-level hillside memorial just off the road.

The memorial includes two information signs, a large US helmet with two flagpoles and a lookout tower with a view of Leyte Gulf.

The memorial remembers the raising of the first American flag on Hill 120 (Leyte) in the Philippines since the fall of Bataan in 1942.  The 3rd Battalion, 382nd Infantry of the 96th “Deadeye” Infantry Division, raised the flag.  1LT Clifford Mills raised the flag on a coconut tree and was killed during battle the next day.

The taking of Hill 120 was part of the Leyte Gulf landings on Blue Beach by the 96^th Infantry Division of the 6^th US Army – part of MacArthur’s “I Shall Return” promise.  MacArthur landed north of this area on Red Beach.

Text on the blue roadside information Sign:

WELCOME

HILL 120

WHERE THE FIRST AMERICAN

FLAG WAS RAISED

BY US LIBERATION FORCES

ON OCTOBER 20, 1944

Text on the Main memorial sign:

ATOP THE HEIGHT OF THIS HILL

120, BLUE BEACH, DULAG, LEYTE

PHILIPPINES AT 10:42  AM

20 OCTOBER 1944

ONLY 42 MINUTES HAD ELAPSED

SINCE THE FIRST ASSAULT 

TROOPS OF THE 3^RD BATTALION,

382^ND INFANTRY, 96^TH DIVISION

OF AMERICAN FORCES OF 

LIBERATION HAD LANDED.

1LT CLIFFORD W. MILLS

RAISED THE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG

IN PHILIPPINE SOIL SINCE

THE FALL OF BAATAN ON APRIL 9, 1942

FLOATING HIGH AND PROUD

WAS TANGIBLE PROOF

THAT THE AMERICANS HAD MADE GOOD

THEIR PROMISE TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE

Helmet Site:

A large WW2 “GI” style US helmet, about 10 feet tall with the 96^th Infantry Division symbol and motto on the side:  “Deadeyes”.  The helmet can be entered. There is a concrete wall behind the helmet lists the symbols of the all the subordinate units of the 96^th Infantry Division.

The words on the wall behind the helmet:

96^th Infantry Division

Memorial Park

Blue Beach

Dulag, Leyte