 During a firefight on that day, in Hậu Nghĩa Province, Republic of Vietnam during Operation Toan Thang III, Hartsock smothered an enemy satchel charge with his body to protect those around him and was mortally wounded in the explosion.Hartsock, aged 24 at his death, was buried in Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery, Flintstone, Maryland.Staff Sergeant Hartsock's official Medal of Honor citation reads