Medal of Honor: Charles Chris Hagemeister – U.S. Army – Vietnam War

Name: Charles Chris Hagemeister
Rank: Specialist Fifth Class (then Specialist Fourth Class)
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Place: Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Lincoln, Nebraska
Born: 21 August 1946, Lincoln, Nebraska

Summary of Action

On 20 March 1967, Sp5c. Charles C. Hagemeister was serving as a medic when his platoon came under a sudden and devastating attack from a well-entrenched enemy force firing from three sides.

Machine guns, mortars, and small arms pinned the unit down.

Casualties mounted immediately.

Without hesitation, Hagemeister ran through intense enemy fire to reach two seriously wounded soldiers, administering aid under direct fire.

Learning that the platoon leader and others were also wounded, he pressed forward again—crawling into the kill zone to treat the injured and offer encouragement.

As he attempted to evacuate casualties, an enemy sniper engaged him at close range.

Hagemeister reacted instantly.

Seizing a rifle from a fallen comrade, he killed the sniper, then engaged additional enemy soldiers attempting to encircle his position—killing three more and silencing a machine gun that threatened the entire area.

Realizing the wounded could not be safely moved alone, he broke through the hail of fire to reach a nearby platoon and secure reinforcements.

Returning with help, he directed covering fire and personally led the evacuation of the wounded—moving again and again into exposed positions despite drawing enemy fire with every movement.

He then shifted to another flank and repeated the process, rescuing additional wounded soldiers under the same deadly conditions.

Medal of Honor Citation

HAGEMEISTER, CHARLES CHRIS

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While conducting combat operations against a hostile force, Sp5c. Hagemeister’s platoon suddenly came under heavy attack from 3 sides by an enemy force occupying well concealed, fortified positions and supported by machine guns and mortars. Seeing 2 of his comrades seriously wounded in the initial action, Sp5c. Hagemeister unhesitatingly and with total disregard for his safety, raced through the deadly hail of enemy fire to provide them medical aid. Upon learning that the platoon leader and several other soldiers also had been wounded, Sp5c. Hagemeister continued to brave the withering enemy fire and crawled forward to render lifesaving treatment and to offer words of encouragement. Attempting to evacuate the seriously wounded soldiers, Sp5c. Hagemeister was taken under fire at close range by an enemy sniper. Realizing that the lives of his fellow soldiers depended on his actions, Sp5c. Hagemeister seized a rifle from a fallen comrade, killed the sniper, 3 other enemy soldiers who were attempting to encircle his position and silenced an enemy machine gun that covered the area with deadly fire. Unable to remove the wounded to a less exposed location and aware of the enemy’s efforts to isolate his unit, he dashed through the fusillade of fire to secure help from a nearby platoon. Returning with help, he placed men in positions to cover his advance as he moved to evacuate the wounded forward of his location. These efforts successfully completed, he then moved to the other flank and evacuated additional wounded men despite the fact that his every move drew fire from the enemy. Sp5c. Hagemeister’s repeated heroic and selfless actions at the risk of his life saved the lives of many of his comrades and inspired their actions in repelling the enemy assault. Sp5c. Hagemeister’s indomitable courage was in the highest traditions of the U.S. Armed Forces and reflect great credit upon himself.