Robert Burton Nett

HE KEPT ON LEADING THE ASSAULT ON LEYTE DESPITE THREE WOUNDS

Robert Burton Nett was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on 13 June 1922. He enlisted in the Connecticut National Guard in 1940 and served with the 102nd Infantry. After the United States entered the Second World War, his unit deployed to the Pacific. Nett attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and received an infantry commission in 1942.

In 1944, Nett returned to the Pacific as a first lieutenant commanding Company E, 2nd Battalion, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division. On 14 December, near Cognon on Leyte in the Philippines, his company joined an assault against a Japanese strongpoint that had blocked the American advance for two days. Nett spearheaded the attack through heavy automatic-weapons fire. During close fighting around a three-story concrete building, he killed seven enemy soldiers with his rifle and bayonet. Although wounded repeatedly, he continued leading the company until the objective was captured. After arranging for the advance to continue, he handed command to another officer and walked to the rear for treatment. He later returned to his unit and fought on Okinawa.

Nett served in three wars and remained in the Army for 33 years. His later assignments included service in Korea and Vietnam, and leadership roles at the Infantry School and Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning. He retired as a colonel in 1973 and later taught industrial arts in Georgia while continuing to mentor officer candidates. He died in Columbus, Georgia, on 19 October 2008, and was buried at Fort Benning.

MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION SUMMARY

The official citation recognizes Nett’s leadership of the assault near Cognon on 14 December 1944. Despite being wounded three times, he continued directing the attack until the strongpoint was taken, then arranged for the advance to resume before leaving for medical care.

Sources: “Nett, Robert B.,” World War II Medal of Honor recipients, U.S. Army; “Lieutenant Robert Nett,” Connecticut Military Department; “WWII Medal of Honor Hero Dies,” U.S. Army; “Fort Benning Remembers Medal of Honor Winner, WWII Hero,” U.S. Army.