

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
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
reflects great credit upon himself.