The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Carl M. Hagman (ASN: 0-0966266), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company E, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 16 May 1951, in the vicinity of Umidong, Korea. During the night of that date the enemy had attacked with great force. As leader of a rifle platoon, Lieutenant Hagman, skillfully directing fire and encouraging his men, held his emplacements against the fanatical enemy assaults throughout the night. When his company finally was ordered to withdraw, the enemy seized the abandoned knob of a hill commanding the ridgeline. From this point the enemy raked the withdrawing unit With intense fire. Lieutenant Hagman resolutely organized a few men and led them in a daring assault up the hill. Marching straight into the fire of a hostile machine gun, he swept the enemy with the fire of an automatic rifle which he had taken from one of his men. His magnificent action regained the vital hill. He stood firing his automatic rifle at the fiercely counterattacking enemy and held his ground until all of his men had reached a position of safety. He was last seen tenaciously holding his position and firing his weapon. The gallantry displayed by Lieutenant Hagman reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.