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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: COL Robert Nett ~ October 27, 2008
Serving the Best Troops and Veterans in the World
| StarCMC and The VeggieTales
Posted on 10/26/2008 5:00:31 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
Our Troops Rock! Thank you for all you do! |
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For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces. |
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Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today! |
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~ Hall of Heroes ~ COL Robert Nett Info from this website. |
![Coast Guard Seal small (better)](http://images5.fotki.com/v81/photos/1/106521/1091486/coastguard-th.jpg) |
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.
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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.
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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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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! |
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; military; troopsupport
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To: LUV W
161
posted on
10/26/2008 9:14:33 PM PDT
by
philly-d-kidder
(Kuwait where the American troops are always Welcome..)
To: fatima
Nighty-night!
You should have sweet dreams tonight!
God bless!
162
posted on
10/26/2008 9:17:17 PM PDT
by
luvie
(McCain/PALIN!!!!--'nuff said! "Sarah Freakin' Palin" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SzlGHMuox8)
To: LUV W
Ah..
Popcorn makes me too thirsty..
I’ll stick with the candy bars!
LOL
163
posted on
10/26/2008 9:25:18 PM PDT
by
MS.BEHAVIN
(Women who behave rarely make history)
To: fatima
164
posted on
10/26/2008 9:28:48 PM PDT
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
To: LUV W
165
posted on
10/26/2008 9:29:26 PM PDT
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
To: MS.BEHAVIN
Looks like it is up your alley.
166
posted on
10/26/2008 9:30:27 PM PDT
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
To: MS.BEHAVIN
167
posted on
10/26/2008 9:30:50 PM PDT
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
To: fatima
168
posted on
10/26/2008 9:31:21 PM PDT
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
To: philly-d-kidder
169
posted on
10/26/2008 9:31:45 PM PDT
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Ha, Ha, Ha....How long did you have to root to find that?
170
posted on
10/26/2008 9:32:54 PM PDT
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
To: fatima
171
posted on
10/26/2008 9:33:59 PM PDT
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
To: MS.BEHAVIN
I’m off tomorrow and have to spend the day cleaning house for Company on Friday.
172
posted on
10/26/2008 9:35:03 PM PDT
by
TASMANIANRED
(TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
To: MS.BEHAVIN
Well, just seeing a good movie will be enough in the long run!
Gotta go, Sis! Gotta work tomorrow!
(((hugs)))
173
posted on
10/26/2008 9:37:51 PM PDT
by
luvie
(McCain/PALIN!!!!--'nuff said! "Sarah Freakin' Palin" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SzlGHMuox8)
To: TASMANIANRED
LOL!
See ya! Gotta go get ready for tomorrow!
Have a great week, Sissy!
174
posted on
10/26/2008 9:38:28 PM PDT
by
luvie
(McCain/PALIN!!!!--'nuff said! "Sarah Freakin' Palin" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SzlGHMuox8)
To: LUV W
*HUG*
Have a good say at w***!
Sweet dreams!
175
posted on
10/26/2008 9:40:39 PM PDT
by
MS.BEHAVIN
(Women who behave rarely make history)
To: HiJinx
250#! Does that fill a freezer? Good job, BTW!
176
posted on
10/26/2008 9:40:53 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: TASMANIANRED
Yep!
Handsome men, swords..the works!
LOL
177
posted on
10/26/2008 9:41:57 PM PDT
by
MS.BEHAVIN
(Women who behave rarely make history)
To: TASMANIANRED
I’m off tomorrow and just have to clean the house, period.
Next week is HELL week for us, remember!
178
posted on
10/26/2008 9:43:36 PM PDT
by
MS.BEHAVIN
(Women who behave rarely make history)
To: PERKY2004
Good evening, Molly....did you have a good weekend? StarCMC does a great job on the Hall of Heroes threads.
179
posted on
10/26/2008 9:45:04 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: big'ol_freeper
WOW! That is awesome. Thanks for your service to our country.
180
posted on
10/26/2008 9:47:33 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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