FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: COL Robert Nett ~ May 10, 2010

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

COL Robert Nett

Info from this website.

           

Robert B. Nett (born June 9, 1922 - October 19, 2008) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the campaign to recapture the Philippines in World War II.

A native of New Haven, Connecticut, Nett enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1940 at age seventeen. The minimum enlistment age was eighteen years, however Nett was able to join by creasing his birth certificate so that his year of birth was obscured. Two years later, he was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he graduated from Officer Candidate School. Nett was then sent to the Philippines, where he met his future wife, Frances, an Army nurse.

By December 14, 1944, Nett was a lieutenant in Company E of the 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division. On that day, near Cognon, Leyte, during the Battle of Ormoc Bay, Nett led his company on an assault against a heavily fortified Japanese position. Despite being seriously wounded twice in hand-to-hand fighting, he continued to lead his men until being wounded a third time. After making arrangements for the leadership of his company, he left the front lines to seek medical aid.  Nett survived his wounds and recovered enough to rejoin his unit for the Okinawa Campaign. His division was then sent to Cebu and began training for the planned invasion of Japan. The invasion was canceled after the surrender of Japan in August 1945, marking the end of the war.

On February 8, 1946, a year after the battle near Cognon, Nett was issued the Medal of Honor for his actions during that fight.  A ceremony was held in his hometown of New Haven, and President Harry S. Truman was to have presented him with the medal there, but had to cancel in order to attend to the formation of the United Nations.

Nett's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

He commanded Company E in an attack against a reinforced enemy battalion which had held up the American advance for 2 days from its entrenched positions around a 3-story concrete building. With another infantry company and armored vehicles, Company E advanced against heavy machinegun and other automatic weapons fire with Lt. Nett spearheading the assault against the strongpoint. During the fierce hand-to-hand encounter which ensued, he killed 7 deeply entrenched Japanese with his rifle and bayonet and, although seriously wounded, gallantly continued to lead his men forward, refusing to relinquish his command. Again he was severely wounded, but, still unwilling to retire, pressed ahead with his troops to assure the capture of the objective. Wounded once more in the final assault, he calmly made all arrangements for the resumption of the advance, turned over his command to another officer, and then walked unaided to the rear for medical treatment. By his remarkable courage in continuing forward through sheer determination despite successive wounds, Lt. Nett provided an inspiring example for his men and was instrumental in the capture of a vital strongpoint.

Nett continued his service in the army after the war for 33 years, retiring with the rank of colonel. He was involved in Army affairs, giving frequent lectures on leadership and duty. He lectured every class of the Officer Candidate School (OCS), and was frequently invited to give talks to the Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning. He is considered the "Father of the Officer Candidate School".

He was inducted into the Army Ranger Hall of Fame and the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame, an honor reserved for those OCS graduates who were awarded the Medal of Honor or rose to the rank of Colonel. In addition, the classroom building in the OCS area at Ft. Benning is named for him, and the Leadership Hall for the Connecticut National Guard at Camp Rell in Niantic is also named in his honor. In January 2007 the United Service Organizations (USO) awarded him the Spirit of Hope Award.

Colonel Nett died on 19 October 2008. He is survived by his wife Frances , who lives in Columbus, Georgia. Their son, Robert Nett Jr., also served in the U.S. Army.

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[luvie]

G’night, Conor! Rest easy and have a good week!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

[luvie]

LOL! I would love to see someone TRY! They would get stomped!...and they would deserve it!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL
It wouldn’t be pretty, that’s for sure.
Funny..nobody took him up on it!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

This man is really a gentle giant..
I just love him!

[PROCON]

Sometimes it happens...lol.

Sometimes sleep has to happen also, so I wish you all good night!!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Mike just had his LAST chemo treatment!
YAY!
But 6 months of it has taken it’s toll.
He’s really tired.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

This will do your heart good Big guy.
We made the peaceniks run the gauntlet that day!
LOL

[oldteen]

G’night PRO. Have a great Monday. *hugs*

[luvie]

Celebration time for Mike to finally get that done!!!!

I hope and pray that he'll gain strength and stay healthy
from now on! Just get plenty of rest, Mike! You deserve it
after what you've had to endure!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Thank you for your prayers for him.
It means a great deal to us both!
*HUG*

[luvie]

I mean every word! ((((hugs))))

[MS.BEHAVIN]

I know you do.
*MEGAHUG*

[oldteen]

That is the down side of it, unfortunately. I pray that he gains strength and becomes himself again. You will both be in my prayers. Your share of hardship needs to be ended!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*HUG*
Thank you so much!

[oldteen]

You're more than welcome. I have a very ill hubby and I know what I go thru so I can imagine what you are dealing with. And, you having your knee issue just adds to it. Big ((((((MS.B)))))!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark nor even eagle flew—
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God

~Photo courtesy of Ms.B~

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*HUG*
Friends are angels on earth!

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless America....great graphic, ms b....prayers for her health and safety.

[Jet Jaguar]

Thanks Ma!