The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
HAGEMEISTER, CHARLES CHRIS
Rank and organization: Specialist Fifth Class (then Sp4c.) U .S.
Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry
Division (Airmobile). Place and date: Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 20
March 1967. Entered service at: Lincoln, Nebr. Born: 21 August 1946,
Lincoln, Nebr.
Citation:
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 machineguns 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 machinegun 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.
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