Medal of Honor: Loren Douglas Hagen – Vietnam War, August 7, 1971

Name: Loren Douglas Hagen

Rank: First Lieutenant
Conflict: Vietnam War
Unit: U.S. Army Training Advisory Group (MACV-SOG)
Date of Action: August 7, 1971
Location: Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action:

Deep behind enemy lines in the dense jungle of Vietnam’s western frontier, First Lieutenant Loren D. Hagen led a small reconnaissance team on a covert MACV-SOG mission that turned into a desperate battle for survival.

Born and raised in Fargo, North Dakota, Hagen was a quiet, intelligent man who volunteered for some of the most dangerous missions the war had to offer. On August 7, 1971, his recon team—comprised of U.S. Army Green Berets and indigenous Montagnard troops—was operating deep in enemy territory when they were ambushed at dawn by a much larger North Vietnamese force supported by rockets, mortars, and machine guns.

Hagen immediately rallied his men, returned fire, and repositioned his team under a hail of enemy gunfire. He moved along the perimeter—resupplying ammunition, directing fire, and inspiring resistance in the face of overwhelming odds. When one of the team's bunkers was obliterated by a direct enemy rocket hit, Hagen saw the danger and advanced alone through the chaos and gunfire to reach his men.

He never made it. Struck down by enemy fire just yards from the destroyed bunker, 1LT Hagen died trying to save his team.

Loren D. Hagen was the last member of the U.S. Army to receive the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, and the only Special Forces officer to receive it during that conflict. He led from the front, and gave everything he had for the men beside him.

Medal of Honor Citation:

First Lieutenant Loren D. Hagen distinguished himself in action while serving as the team leader of a small reconnaissance team operating deep within enemy-held territory.

At approximately 0630 hours on the morning of 7 August 1971, the small team came under a fierce assault by a superior-sized enemy force using heavy small arms, automatic weapons, mortar, and rocket fire. 1LT Hagen immediately began returning small-arms fire upon the attackers and successfully led his team in repelling the first enemy onslaught. He then quickly deployed his men into more strategic defense locations before the enemy struck again in an attempt to overrun and annihilate the beleaguered team’s members.

1LT Hagen repeatedly exposed himself to the enemy fire directed at him as he constantly moved about the team’s perimeter, directing fire, rallying the members, and resupplying the team with ammunition, while courageously returning small arms and hand grenade fire in a valorous attempt to repel the advancing enemy force. The courageous actions and expert leadership abilities of 1LT Hagen were a great source of inspiration and instilled confidence in the team members.

After observing an enemy rocket make a direct hit on and destroy one of the team’s bunkers, 1LT Hagen moved toward the wrecked bunker in search of team members despite the fact that the enemy force now controlled the bunker area. With total disregard for his own personal safety, he crawled through the enemy fire while returning small-arms fire upon the enemy force. Undaunted by the enemy rockets and grenades impacting all around him, 1LT Hagen desperately advanced upon the destroyed bunker until he was fatally wounded by enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire.

With complete disregard for his personal safety, 1LT Hagen’s courageous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon him and the U.S. Army.