Charles C. Hagemeister

Charles Chris Hagemeister
Charles Hagemeister
Born	August 21, 1946 (1946-08-21) (age 65) Lincoln, Nebraska
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1966 - 1990
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor

Charles Chris Hagemeister (born August 21, 1946) is a retired United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Biography

Hagemeister was drafted in the Army from his birth city of Lincoln, Nebraska in 1966, and by March 20, 1967 was serving as a Specialist Four in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). During a firefight on that day, in Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, Hagemeister repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to aid wounded comrades. He was subsequently promoted to Specialist Five and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.^[1]

Hagemeister later became a commissioned officer and reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring.^[2]

Medal of Honor citation

Congressional Medal of Honor

Specialist Hagemeister's Medal of Honor citation reads:

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.^[1]

See also

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Medal of Honor recipients - Vietnam (A-L)". United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html. Retrieved 2009-09-21. 
2. ^ "Full List of Living Recipients". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. http://www.cmohs.org/recipients/living_list_full.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-20. 

Persondata
Name	Hagemeister, Charles Chris
Alternative names
Short description	United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
Date of birth	August 21, 1946
Place of birth	Lincoln, Nebraska
Date of death
Place of death