Born: December 12, 1924
War: World War II
Rank: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Location of Action: Okinawa Shima
Date of Action: May 14, 1945
Official Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty as leader of a machinegun squad serving with Company C,
1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces
on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain on 14 May 1945.
Alert and aggressive during a
determined assault against a strongly fortified Japanese hill position, Cpl. Hauge
boldly took the initiative when his company's left flank was pinned down under a
heavy machinegun and mortar barrage with resultant severe casualties and, quickly
locating the 2 machineguns which were delivering the uninterrupted stream of
enfilade fire, ordered his squad to maintain a covering barrage as he rushed
across an exposed area toward the furiously blazing enemy weapons.
Although painfully wounded as he charged the first machinegun, he launched a
vigorous single-handed grenade attack, destroyed the entire hostile gun position
and moved relentlessly forward toward the other emplacement despite his wounds
and the increasingly heavy Japanese fire. Undaunted by the savage opposition,
he again hurled his deadly grenades with unerring aim and succeeded in demolishing
the second enemy gun before he fell under the slashing fury of Japanese sniper fire.
By his ready grasp of the critical situation and his heroic 1-man assault tactics, Cpl. Hauge
had eliminated 2 strategically placed enemy weapons, thereby releasing the besieged troops
from an overwhelming volume of hostile fire and enabling his company to advance. His
indomitable fighting spirit and decisive valor in the face of almost certain death
reflect the highest credit upon Cpl. Hauge and the U.S. Naval Service.
He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
LOUIS JAMES HAUGE, JR.
