The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Jerome T. Hagen (MCSN: 0-62126), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Marine Attack Squadron THREE HUNDRED ELEVEN (VMA-311), Marine Aircraft Group Eleven, First Marine Aircraft Wind in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 27 February 1971, during Operation Lam Son 719, Lieutenant Colonel Hagen launched from the DaNang Air Base as Wingman in a flight of two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft on a mission to provide close air support for an Army of the Republic of Vietnam fire support base which was under heavy pressure and intense fire from a large North Vietnamese Army mechanized force. Arriving over the designated area, he was given a situation brief by the Forward Air Controller (Airborne) and then quickly located the enemy tanks moving in and attacking friendly positions on a strategically important hill. Despite a low cloud cover which severely restricted his area of maneuverability and caused his aircraft to be exposed to hostile fire for longer periods of time, Lieutenant Colonel Hagen sighted two tanks alongside each other with their cannons raised to fire at him and disregarding his own safety, commenced his bombing run. Undaunted by the extremely heavy volume of North Vietnamese fire directed at his Skyhawk, he fearlessly maneuvered his aircraft on a strike and, delivered his ordinance with extraordinary precision, destroyed the two tanks. Observing another tank advancing toward the friendly position from the south, Lieutenant Colonel Hagan again braved intense enemy fire, several rounds of which struck his aircraft, and boldly executed a bombing run which scored a direct hit and destroyed the tank advancing toward the friendly position fro the south, Lieutenant Colonel Hagan again braved intense enemy fire, several rounds of which struck his aircraft, and boldly executed a bombing run which scored a direct hit and destroyed the tank. As a result of his devastating attacks, the North Vietnamese were forced to abandon two other tanks and cease their attempt to overrun the friendly fire base. By his courage, superior airmanship, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lieutenant Colonel Hagan was instrumental in accomplishing the hazardous mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.