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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: COL Robert Nett ~ May 10, 2010
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans in The World !!
| StarCMC
Posted on 05/09/2010 5:00:00 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. |
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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: Kathy in Alaska; ConorMacNessa; SandRat; LUV W; mylife; PROCON; All
WATERVILLE — A Waterville High School graduate died Thursday while serving in the Wardak Province of Afghanistan.
Spc. Wade A. Slack, 21, was with the U.S. Army’s 707th Ordnance Battalion, of Ft. Lewis, Wash., and specialized in defusing explosives, according to Gov. John Baldacci in a press release.
Slack attended Waterville Senior High School from 2003 to 2007. He is the son of Alan and Rose Slack of Waterville and Mary Slack of Waterville.
Please keep this young warrior and his family in your prayers.
Thanks, everyone.
21
posted on
05/09/2010 5:37:51 PM PDT
by
MS.BEHAVIN
(Women who behave rarely make history)
To: PROCON
Good evening, Pro!
You are very welcome!
22
posted on
05/09/2010 5:40:05 PM PDT
by
MS.BEHAVIN
(Women who behave rarely make history)
To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC; MoJo2001; AZamericonnie; MS.BEHAVIN; LUV W; laurenmarlowe; fatima; ...
To all the Canteen Divas!
Aloha Kakou!
23
posted on
05/09/2010 5:45:58 PM PDT
by
BIGLOOK
(Keelhaul Congress!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
24
posted on
05/09/2010 5:49:16 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
To: MS.BEHAVIN
25
posted on
05/09/2010 5:50:21 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: left that other site
Good evening, left....thank you, and hope you had a good weekend. Lots of lessons? Some time for yourself?
26
posted on
05/09/2010 5:54:04 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: Cindy
Good evening, Cindy....bad weather behind you? The whole weekend has been sunny and warm here.
27
posted on
05/09/2010 5:55:48 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: Kathy in Alaska
28
posted on
05/09/2010 5:57:51 PM PDT
by
MoochPooch
(I'm a compassionate cynic.)
To: MoochPooch
Good evening, Mooch...we have had a sunny and warm weekend. How are you fixed for nice weather?
29
posted on
05/09/2010 6:03:32 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC
Supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen at more than 1,000 places across the U. S. and around the world.
~Tribute to Our Troops~
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To: BIGLOOK
To: Kathy in Alaska
I had a few cancellations today so I took (Oh the HUMANITY!) a ...NAP! LOLOLOL!
32
posted on
05/09/2010 6:15:35 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(Your Mi'KMaq Paddy Whacky Bass Playing Biker Buddy)
To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC
Thank you ladies for this evenings thread! *hugs*
To: left that other site
Wow....that was some hugh Manatee! ;’}
To: BIGLOOK
Aloha, Hawaii....thanks for the Mother’s Day wishes for all. Two all day sunny days in a row....mid 50s each day. A hint for some rain on Tuesday. I hope...
35
posted on
05/09/2010 6:20:24 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Aloha Night Owl!
Just had two rainy days here, we just call it the weekend. Wish we could export one of 'em.
36
posted on
05/09/2010 6:22:46 PM PDT
by
BIGLOOK
(Keelhaul Congress!)
To: AZamericonnie
Thanks, AZ, for the red, white, and blue tribute. Hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend.
37
posted on
05/09/2010 6:24:52 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: Kathy in Alaska
38
posted on
05/09/2010 6:25:27 PM PDT
by
oldteen
To: left that other site
A nap......how sweet that sounds. Good for you.
Hammering and banging all day next door. Looks like some major renovations before the new folks move in. The bathtub and maybe bathroom cabinets came out today. I’ll go look later. The trash bin was filled yesterday, so no room for today’s stuff.
39
posted on
05/09/2010 6:30:34 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
To: oldteen
11th!! Hope you had a allergy free day.
40
posted on
05/09/2010 6:38:06 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
(~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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