Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Medal of Honor

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Regiment:

    386th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    97th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    April 12, 1945

    War Department, General Orders No. 101 (November 8, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Private First Class Joe R. Hastings, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on 12 April 1945, while serving with Company C, 386th Infantry Regiment, 97th Infantry Division. Private First Class Hastings fought gallantly during an attack against strong enemy forces defending Drabenderhohe, Germany, from the dug-in positions on commanding ground. As squad leader of a light machinegun section supporting the advance of the 1st and 3d Platoons, he braved direct rifle, machinegun, 20-mm., and mortar fire, some of which repeatedly missed him only by inches, and rushed forward over 350 yards of open, rolling fields to reach a position from which he could fire on the enemy troops. From this vantage point he killed the crews of a 20-mm. gun and a machinegun, drove several enemy riflemen from their positions, and so successfully shielded the 1st Platoon, that it had time to reorganize and remove its wounded to safety. Observing that the 3d Platoon to his right was being met by very heavy 40-mm. and machinegun fire, he ran 150 yards with his gun to the leading elements of that unit, where he killed the crew of the 40-mm. gun. As spearhead of the 3d Platoon’s attack, he advanced, firing his gun held at hip height, disregarding the bullets that whipped past him, until the assault had carried 175 yards to the objective. In this charge he and the riflemen he led killed or wounded many of the fanatical enemy and put two machineguns out of action. Private First Class Hastings, by his intrepidity, outstanding leadership, and unrelenting determination to wipe out the formidable German opposition, cleared the path for his company’s advance into Drabenderhohe. He was killed four days later while again supporting the 3d Platoon.