Loren Douglas Hagen
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

First Lieutenant Loren Douglas Hagen (25 February 1946 - 7 August 1971) was a U.S. Army Special Forces officer who was awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Vietnam War. Hagen was Recon Team (RT) leader of a small special reconnaissance unit "RT Kansas," manned by "Green Berets" and highly trained Montagnard commandos from TF1AE (Task Force One Advisory Element) aka "CCN" (Command & Control North), a division of Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) in the Vietnam War.

Career and Command

Loren Douglas Hagen was born on 25 February 1946 in Fargo, ND; he also joined the U.S. Army there. On 7 August 1971, Hagen was serving as a first lieutenant in command of special Recon Team (RT) Kansas, a mixed unit of Army Special Forces and Montagnard commandos from Task Force One Advisory Element (TF1AE), also known as Command & Control North (CCN) with MACV-SOG (name changed in March 1971 to "TAG" Training Advisory Group, U.S. Army).

Hagan's special reconnaissance team had landed and secured their position for the overnight mission almost within sight of the Hanoi High Command's most critical new venture of late 1971, the first six-inch fuel pipeline laid across the Vietnamese DMZ. The pipeline was absolutely essential a few months later when entire tank battalions rolled through the area for the Vietnam War's largest offensive. The 304th North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Division was already massing there, plus a regiment of the 308th Division, in preparation for the 1972 Easter Offensive.

Enemy Attack

During an enemy attack on 7 August in an assembly area of the North Vietnamese Army in the A Shau Valley of the Republic of Vietnam, Hagen led his small recon team's defense. When Sgt. Bruce Allen Berg was hit by a rocket in one of the team's bunkers, Hagen crawled towards Berg's position through heavy fire in an attempt to assist Berg, returning fire as he proceeded. Mortally wounded in the process, Hagen was later posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.

Other Special Forces members of Recon Team Kansas were: SSG Oran Bingham; SGT William R. Queen (DSC awarded for his actions); SGT Bruce Allen Berg; SGT William Rimondi; and SGT Tony Andersen. Eight Bru Dega (Montagnard) Commandos (no names available) were also killed.

Medal of Honor

Citation: 1st Lt. Hagen distinguished himself in action while serving as the team leader of a small special 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. 1st Lt. Hagen immediately began returning small-arms fire upon the attackers and successfully led this 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. 1st Lt. 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 1st Lt. 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 1 of the team's bunkers, 1st Lt. Hagen moved toward the wrecked bunker in search for 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, 1st Lt. 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, 1st Lt. 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.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Loren Douglas Hagen's name is inscribed on Panel 03W - Line 125.

Death and Burial

First Lieutenant Loren Douglas Hagen was killed in action on 7 August 1971. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 28, Grave 1204.