Louis Hagan '45 was "deficient in studies" and resigned from the Naval Academy in 1942. His service did not end then, however. On February 17, 1945 he was an Ensign in the Naval Reserve and aboard USS LCI(G) 471, providing close-in gunfire support to underwater demolition teams (UDT) who were preparing the beaches of Iwo Jima for the invasion two days later.
At 11:32 that morning, his ship was ordered to retire after "having received two additional hits which killed nine men, wounded six, disabled the bow 40mm gun and started another fire." Two of the wounded later died.
Louis's commanding officer — one of five officers aboard the ship — was awarded the Navy Cross, and the entire LCI(G) group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their heroism that day. (Another commanding officer in the group was awarded the Medal of Honor.)
Louis was from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and was survived by his mother, sister, and brother.
https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/LOUIS_P._HAGAN,_ENS,_USNR