The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Joseph W. Hagen (ASN: 0-1175450), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 118th Field Artillery Battalion, 30th Infantry Division on 31 July 1944, in France. Lieutenant Hagen was serving as a forward observer with a battalion of infantry when they were stopped by direct fire from a dug-in enemy tank. Disregarding his personal safety in favor of the success of the mission and the lives of his fellow soldiers, Lieutenant Hagen crawled under heavy enemy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire to a position where he could direct artillery fire on the tank, which was ultimately destroyed by five direct hits. The aggressiveness and personal courage displayed by Lieutenant Hagen was an inspiration to the infantrymen who advanced forward with renewed confidence.