*HAUGE, LOUIS JAMES, JR.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine
Corps Reserve. Born: 12 December 1924, Ada, Minn. Accredited to: Minnesota.
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.
