The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant John R. Hagan (MCSN: 0-102650), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Platoon Commander with Company G, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 19 April 1968, Second Lieutenant Hagan’s unit was dispatched to a bridge site between Ca Lu and Khe Sanh to assist elements of his company which were heavily engaged with a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force employing mortars, rockets, small arms and automatic weapons. Earlier in the day a security force and a convoy had been ambushed at the bridge and were pinned down and sustained numerous casualties. Upon arrival at the site, Second Lieutenant Hagan unhesitatingly advanced to the point of heaviest contact and deployed his men to recover casualties from the bridge area. Repeatedly exposing himself to intense enemy fire, he moved from one position to another, aiding the wounded and directing their evacuation to covered positions. On one occasion when he became pinned down by the heavy volume of hostile fire along both sides of the narrow road, he crawled to a tank and directed the movement of the vehicle into the hazardous area, aiding in the evacuation of the casualties from the fire-swept battle area. During the night, Second Lieutenant Hagan disregarded the dangers of numerous booby traps and mines as he maneuvered throughout the difficult, mountainous terrain to ensure that all casualties had been recovered and evacuated to the relative safety of the company perimeter. The following day and night, he refused to return to the command post and remained in the area to direct mortar fire against the enemy positions and assist a reinforcing company which was pursuing the fleeing enemy. His heroic actions undoubtedly saved several Marine lives and were instrumental in the subsequent defeat of the enemy force, resulting in twenty-four North Vietnamese soldiers confirmed killed. By his extraordinary courage, indomitable fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty, Second Lieutenant Hagan upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.