photo #9232672

Sergeant Craig Louis Hagen answered his country's call with the United States Army and would go on to distinguish himself not only as an infantryman but also as an airborne-qualified door gunner. Assigned to the 118th Aviation Company in support of the fight for Đông Xoài, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement while engaged in aerial flight.On the night of June 9, 1965, one of the fiercest battles of the early Vietnam War erupted when an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 Viet Cong attacked the Special Forces camp at Đông Xoài in Phước Long Province. Shortly before midnight, the enemy opened the assault with devastating mortar and 57mm recoilless rifle fire. Some of the first rounds struck the communications center, medical aid station, and sleeping quarters, inflicting casualties before many defenders had a chance to react.As the battle intensified, friendly aircraft arrived to illuminate the battlefield with flares while armed helicopters swept in to bomb and strafe enemy positions surrounding the camp. Despite these efforts, the Viet Cong overran portions of the perimeter, forcing desperate fighting as the defenders struggled to hold their ground.Flying directly into that maelstrom was Sergeant Craig L. Hagen.Serving as the gunner aboard a rescue helicopter from the 118th Aviation Company, Hagen and his crew braved intense enemy fire while supporting the embattled garrison. During the operation, their helicopter was brought down, killing pilot Captain Walter L. Hall, co-pilot Donald R. Saegaert, crew chief Staff Sergeant Joseph J. Compa Jr., and Sergeant Craig L. Hagen.The battle would ultimately claim the lives of 20 Americans, including Special Forces soldiers, Navy Seabees, helicopter crews, and military advisers, while hundreds of South Vietnamese troops and defenders also fell in the fierce fighting. Yet the courage displayed by the aviators who repeatedly flew into hostile fire to support and rescue those trapped inside the camp became one of the defining stories of Đông Xoài.Today, we remember Sergeant Craig Louis Hagen—a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient whose willingness to fly into overwhelming danger exemplified the courage and selflessness of the Army aviators who risked everything to save others.#GhostsoftheBattlefield #VietnamWar #DongXoai #ArmyAviation #118thAviationCompany #DistinguishedFlyingCross #USArmy #DoorGunner #HonorTheFallen #NeverForget #MilitaryHistory #WarStories #UltimateSacrifice