Charles Chris Hagemeister

Infobox Military Person
name=Charles Chris Hagemeister
born= Birth date and age|1946|8|21
died=
placeofbirth= Lincoln, Nebraska
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption=Charles Hagemeister
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank=Lieutenant Colonel
commands=
unit=5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
battles=Vietnam War
awards=Medal of Honor
relations=
laterwork=

Charles Chris Hagemeister (born 21 August 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 enlisted in the Army from his birth city of Lincoln, Nebraska, and by 20 March 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.

Hagemeister later became a commissioned officer and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring.

Medal of Honor citation

Specialist Hagemeister's official 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, Sp5 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, Sp5 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, Sp5 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, Sp5 Hagemeister was taken under fire at close range by an enemy sniper. Realizing that the lives of his fellow soldiers depended on his actions, Sp5 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. Sp5 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. Sp5 Hagemeister's indomitable courage was in the highest traditions of the U.S. Armed Forces and reflect great credit upon himself.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War

References

*cite web
publisher = Congressional Medal of Honor Society
title = Full List of Living Recipients
url = http://www.cmohs.org/recipients/living_list_full.htm
accessdate = 2007-07-20
*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Medal of Honor Recipients - Vietnam (A-L)
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = 16 July 2007
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html
accessdate = 2007-07-20

Persondata
NAME= Hagemeister, Charles Chris
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= 21 August 1946
PLACE OF BIRTH= Lincoln, Nebraska
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=