US People--Hauge, Louis J., Corporal, USMCR.

PEOPLE--UNITED STATES

Corporal Louis J. Hauge, Jr., USMCR, (1924-1945)

Louis James Hauge, Jr. was born on 12 December 1924 in Ada, Minnesota. He worked in a canning factory in his hometown and at a shipyard at Tacoma, Washington before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from his native state in April 1943. After training with light-machine guns at Camp Elliott, California, Hauge relocated to the Pacific war zone and served with the First Marine Division based at New Caledonia and New Guinea. In the Fall of 1944, he participated as a message runner with Headquarters Company, First Battalion, First Marine Division against the Japanese at the Battle of Peleliu. For his distinguished bravery, he was meritoriously promoted to Corporal.

On 14 May 1945, Corporal Hauge was serving as a Machine-Gun Squad Leader with Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division against the Japanese on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain. Pinned down by fire, he boldly ran towards the two enemy emplacements to destroy them. Wounded during the first successful attack, he continued onto the second emplacement, destroying it before mortally wounded by enemy sniper fire. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" on this occasion, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Louis J. Hauge, Jr. is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.

USNS Cpl. Louis J. Hauge, Jr., (T-AK-3000), 1984-____, is named in honor of Corporal Hauge, Jr.

This page features the only image we have concerning Louis J. Hauge, Jr.

Photo #: NH 106214

Corporal Louis J. Hauge, Jr., USMC

Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 203.
Louis J. Hauge, Jr. was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" while serving as a Machine-Gun Squad Leader with Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division against Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain, 14 May 1945.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph

Online Image: 44KB; 605 x 765 pixels

Medal of Honor citation of Corporal Louis J. Hauge, Jr., USMC (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 203):

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Leader of a Machine-Gun Squad serving with Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST 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, Corporal Hauge boldly took the initiative when his company's left flank was pinned down under a heavy machine-gun and mortar barrage with resultant severe casualties and, quickly locating the two machine guns 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 machine gun, 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 one-man assault tactics, Corporal Hauge had eliminated two 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 Corporal Hauge and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country."

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