Frank D. Hagan

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Frank D. Hagan (RA19301631), Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Corporal Hagan distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Sonbyok, Korea, on the night of 28 September 1951. On that night Corporal Hagan’s company was occupying positions on a strategic hill when it was attacked by a large hostile force. The majority of the enemy troops concentrated their assault against the left flank of the company perimeter where Corporal Hagan’s position was located. The intense enemy fire caused the defenders in this sector to execute a limited withdrawal but Corporal Hagan, realizing that his own position was now the key to the friendly defense, remained in his emplacement with unflinching determination, firing rapidly into the charging foe. Observing that one position was all that barred their advance, the enemy force converged on Corporal Hagan, who fought with such ferocity and courageous singleness of purpose that eighteen of them were killed before his position was overrun. The heroic action of Corporal Hagan enabled his company to form a new defense line from which they counterattacked the hostile force and routed them from the hill with heavy casualties. When Corporal Hagan’s emplacement was retaken by his comrades, he was found dead among the enemy he had killed, still clutching his bayonet in his hand.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 102 (February 21, 1952)