FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: COL Robert Nett ~ 22 September 2025

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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.
Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[PROCON]

Thanks for honoring tonight's Hero, Kathy!

It's not Fall yet but we've been getting Fall weather, Yipee!

[mairdie]

Great story. Glad you told us about him.

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Shana Tova, Happy Jewish New Year (tomorrow night).

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: COL Robert Nett ~

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[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

I’m starting to get jealous of the rain you’re getting. LOL
There was rain all around me today but I only got enough to dot the dust on the cars.

[radu]

Howdy, PRO.

Lucky you with your fall weather. Still feels like summer here but it’s SUPPOSED to cool off a little this week.

[SkyDancer]

~ Evening All! ~

~

~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...you are welcome. We must remember.

Glad you are cooling off...dreary and off and on light rain here. And fallen leaves EVERYWHERE!!

[luvie]

Robert B. Nett
June 9, 1922 - October 19, 2008
United States Army officer.
Medal of Honor Recipient
for his actions during the campaign
to recapture the Philippines in World War II.
What a brave hero...
....as all our Military heroes are!
Thanks, Kathy!

[PROCON]

Have a great upcoming week, Kathy!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, mairdie...glad you enjoyed his story.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch, and happy almost Shana Tova!!

Are things staying calm in your neighborhood? Starting into fall?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu....a restful day? No corn harvesting dust?

Dreary here, but rain off and on most of the day.

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

I see you survived. LOL I’ll bet you’re looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow though.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Janey...((HUGS))...hope you had better weather. If not, hope you could sit by the fire with a good book.

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

Man! You are right about that. I’m kinda dragging tonight. Actually laid down about an hour ago, though, and didn’t come close to dozing off. So I got back up and have been uploading some old home videos to my YouTube channel.

How was your day? Did you get to sleep in? Did you ever get any rain?

[radu]

It sure has been a dreary day up there. But you’re still getting much-needed rain after the many dry months you’ve had.

No corn harvesting dust here. They’re DONE! They were finishing up when I got home from the fall festival Friday night.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie, and thanks for helping honor our hero, Col Robert Nett.

So important for us to remember.