The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Specialist Fourth Class Waldo A. Hagen (ASN: US-5543033), United States Army, for gallantry in action in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 8 November 1968 while serving as an armored cavalry assault vehicle driver with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Troop B was engaged in fierce contact with an enemy force near Loc Ninh when Specialist Hagen’s vehicle commander was severely wounded. Specialist Hagen immediately assumed command and drove the vehicle through an intense hail of enemy fire to an evacuation point to obtain medical treatment for his commander. As he was driving his vehicle back into the fight a nearby tank was struck by two antitank rockets causing it to burst into flames and trapping the driver inside. Unhesitatingly, Specialist Hagen leaped from his vehicle and climbed on the burning tank and helped evacuate its driver. Since the intense volume of fire kept him from returning to his vehicle, Specialist Hagen took an M60 machine gun and as much ammunition as he could carry and moved directly in front of the tank in view of the enemy automatic weapons emplacements to lay down effective suppressive fire. Several times Specialist Hagen’s precarious position was under attack by ten or more enemy troops, but each time he refused to withdraw and continued a tremendous volume of fire which forced the enemy to retreat. Specialist Four Hagen’s personal bravery and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.