Minot in Ward County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
☆ First Lieutenant Loren D. Hagen
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 29, 2023
1. ☆ First Lieutenant Loren D. Hagen Marker
1946-1971
U.S. Army Training Advisory Group, U.S. Army
First Lieutenant Hagen, was the leader of a small reconnaissance team operating deep within enemy-held territory in the Republic of Vietnam. On August 7, 1971, the team came under fierce assault by a superior-sized enemy force using heavy small arms, automatic weapons, mortar, and rocket fire. Hagen successfully led his team in repelling the first attack and then quickly deployed his men into more defensive positions before the enemy struck again. Hagen repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire as he moved about the team's perimeter, directing fire, rallying the members, and resupplying the team with ammunition, while returning fire at the enemy. After an enemy rocket destroyed one of the team's bunkers, Hagen crawled through the enemy fire in search of any surviving team members. Undaunted by enemy rockets and grenades, Hagen advanced upon the destroyed bunker until he was fatally wounded.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is August 7, 1971.
Location. 48° 14.012′ N, 101°
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Specialist Fourth Class Michael John Fitzmaurice (here, next to this marker); Joseph E. Carter (here, next to this marker); Master Sergeant Woodrow Wilson Keeble (here, next to this marker); Staff Sergeant Jack J. Pendleton (here, next to this marker); Private Thomas Sletteland (here, next to this marker); ☆ Private First Class Henry Gurke (here, next to this marker); Corporal Frank L. Anders (here, next to this marker); North Dakota Medal of Honor Memorial (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minot.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. North Dakota Medal of Honor Memorial
Also see . . .
1. Loren Douglas Hagen (Congressional Medal of Honor Society). Excerpt:
Vietnam War - U.S. Army(Submitted on February 10, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Citation: The courageous actions and expertleadership 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 one 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.Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 27, 20232. ☆ First Lieutenant Loren D. Hagen Memorial
Presentation Date & Details: August 8, 1974, Blair House, presented by Vice President Gerald R. Ford to his family.
2. Loren Douglas Hagen (Wikipedia). Excerpt:
A United States Army Special Forces officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions during the Vietnam War as Recon Team (RT) leader of a small special reconnaissance unit "RT Kansas", manned by USASF Green Berets and highly trained Montagnard commandos from Task Force One Advisory Element aka Command & Control North, a division of Studies and Observations Group in the Vietnam War. Hagen was the last member of the U.S. Army to earn a Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War. The family lived in Moorhead, Minnesota, where he worked summers as a farm laborer and as a lifeguard. He was an Eagle Scout and was credited with saving the life of a swimmer at the Moorhead swimming pool in 1968.(Submitted on February 10, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
His father was transferred to Decatur, Illinois, his sophomore year of high school. He attended MacArthur High School in Decatur, where he was student council president and graduated in 1964. After high school he returned to Minnesota and enrolled at North Dakota State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, industrial science and math. After college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and then was trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and became a member of the 5th Special Forces, Green Berets.
3. 1LT Loren Douglas Hagen (Find A Grave). Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia. (Submitted on February 10, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 71 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 10, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
