THE WALL OF FACES

Lt. Loren Douglas Hagen was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, with Combat Distinguishing Device (V), for his gallantry in action. He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Merit for his sustained meritorious service. He served as a Special Forces Qualified Infantry Unit Commander and was assigned to RT KANSAS, TF-1 AE, MACV-SOG, 5TH SF GROUP.
See http://www.coffeltdatabase.org

The date, August 7th, has been declared Purple Heart Day in recognition of General George Washington's establishment of the award for his troops during the Revolutionary War. Lt. Loren Douglas Hagen paid the ultimate price for the award.
He served as a Special Forces Qualified Infantry Unit Commander and was assigned to RT KANSAS, TF-1 AE, MACV-SOG, 5TH SF GROUP.
See http://www.virtualwall.org/dh/HagenLD01a.htm

Afterwards, we all moved on and not necessarily in a good way. Walt and I went on a parachute jump on Devens’ only drop zone. Walt got killed on that jump. Quite frankly, I don’t remember if he died before or after you left the 10th. Andy and I escorted his body to California for his funeral. Shortly thereafter, Andy was injured in HALO school at Bragg. He left the army and went home to Oklahoma. As for me, I left the 3-shop and took command of my own A-Team. I stayed in the army for a couple more years, mostly overseas. I got out and went into law enforcement. I’m retired now. But the pain of losing so many of my comrades has always stayed near the surface of my memory.
You know when we buried you, we didn’t know at the time you would be an MOH recipient. And, get this, until the day of the funeral, we never knew your given name was Loren. Just when you think you know a guy...

Well Ernie, just got back from DC, hadn’t been there for over forty, maybe fifty years. I visited your grave at Arlington for the third time, including attending your funeral. I also visited The Wall for the first time. Checked out your name on the 3-W panel. All of this brought back a lot of memories. I remembered you in the S-3-shop back at Fort Devens with the 10th SFG(A). I was a captain then and had just returned from Nam. There were three of us captains there Andy Andersen, Walt Marcantel, and me. We oftentimes talked about our experiences in the war, telling each other things that we could never talk to civilians about. You were a 1st lieutenant hanging on to every word. We liked you. You were young, full of enthusiasm, and had lots of questions. We teased the hell out of you, but you took it all in stride, just adding to our respect for you. Maybe we should have kept our mouths shut. You became anxious to get into the fight and then put in your papers for early deployment into the Theater. You could have stayed with the 10th for several more months. I always wondered if you had, would that have changed things. You know what I mean.
When word got back to us you were KIA, we were stunned. You could have heard a pin drop, not only in the 3-shop, but the entire HQ. We just couldn’t believe it. Yet we did. We, as soldiers, had been through this too many times before, and never quite understood how we survived, and others didn’t. Andy and I led a contingency from the 10th down to DC for your funeral. Another contingency from the 7th Group came up from Bragg. We were honorary pallbearers marching on each side of the horse drawn caisson carrying your flag-draped casket. You were buried with full military honors provided by the “Old Guard”, complete with a military band.
After your funeral, we had planned to immediately return to Devens. But your parents asked us to join them at a restaurant in Georgetown for a luncheon and a celebration of your life. Well, we couldn’t say no. We ended up spending the entire afternoon with your family, eating, drinking, and quite frankly enjoying ourselves. We really liked your family. We met a brother of yours who looked just like you. By the time we left, we felt like we gave you a great sendoff. It was sort of like an Irish Wake.

I remember staying with your family quite a bit in the early 60s. Your dad was my Sunday School teacher and your family was a guiding force for me. I always looked up to you. I am saddened to learn of your passing, but so very proud to have know someone with such strength and courage and honor. Thank you for your service, Loren. You lived and died in what you believed.