DOB/DOD: June 13, 1922 (New Haven, CT) – October 19, 2008 (Columbus, GA); 86 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Frances Kabler [Army Nurse Corps veteran] (1918-2012).
CHILDREN: One son, Robert B. Jr. [Army veteran] (1954-2012).
ENLISTMENT: Connecticut National Guard from June 13, 1940 – September 29, 1940. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on December 26, 1942.
RETIREMENT: July 31, 1973.
FAMILY: Born to Matthew M. (1882-1935) and Emma L. Miller Nett (1883-1951). One brother, Joseph F. (1909-?), and one sister, Doris M. Nett Manion (1916-2003).
DECORATIONS: He also received the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Star Medal w/V for valor, and two Oak Leaf Clusters.
OTHER: Member of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, Class of 2007.
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING: World War II
BRANCH OF SERVICE: Army
UNIT: Company E, 2nd Battalion, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division
GENERAL ORDERS: War Department, General Orders No. 16 (February 8, 1946)
AGE ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT: 22
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain (Infantry) Robert Burton Nett (ASN: 0-1305818), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty while Commanding Company E, 2nd Battalion, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division, in action at Cognon, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 14 December 1944. Captain Nett commanded Company E in an attack against a reinforced enemy battalion which had held up the American advance for two days from its entrenched positions around a three-story concrete building. With another infantry company and armored vehicles, Company E advanced against heavy machine gun and other automatic weapons fire, with Lieutenant Nett spearheading the assault against the strongpoint. During the fierce hand-to-hand encounter which ensued, he killed seven 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, Lieutenant Nett provided an inspiring example for his men and was instrumental in the capture of a vital strong point.
Presentation Date & Details: February 8, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut, presented by Lieutenant General Oscar W. Griswold
Honorary naming
Camp Nett, Connecticut National Guard training center in Niantic, Connecticut.
Colonel Robert B. Nett building, The Fort Benning OCS classroom.
Colonel Robert B. Nett Leadership Award is awarded to the Distinguished Leadership Graduate (DLG), the second highest honor bestowed upon a Candidate at OCS.
Colonel Robert B. Nett Medal of Honor Highway, a 5-mile stretch of US 280/SR 520 (Martha Berry Highway) through Fort Benning.
Colonel Robert Nett Leadership Hall, the leadership hall for the Connecticut National Guard at Camp Nett in Niantic.
Nett Warrior, a dismounted battle command system (Ground Soldier®), was named for Colonel Nett in 2010.
ACTS AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA 1992
1992 Vol. 1 — Page: 2203
ROBERT B. NETT MEDAL OF HONOR HIGHWAY— DESIGNATED.
No. 71 (Senate Resolution No. 485).
A RESOLUTION
Designating the Robert B. Nett Medal of Honor Highway; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, 48 years ago, in one of World War II’s many fierce firefights, Colonel (Retired) Robert B. Nett of Columbus, Georgia, (then Lieutenant) distinguished himself as a cut above most men when courage and bravery are measured and earned for himself this country’s highest award of valor — the Medal of Honor; and
WHEREAS, on December 14, 1944, as commander of Company E, he is credited with killing seven Japanese soldiers with the bayonet of his M-1 rifle and with leading his company through a major enemy defensive line on Leyte Island in the Philippines; and
WHEREAS, he suffered three bullet wounds that day: one that grazed his jugular vein, which was patched with a butterfly bandage by a medic; another bullet caught him in the right side of the chest, carrying away part of a lung; and the third bullet “blew out a rib” in his back and put him out of operation; and
WHEREAS, the citation accompanying his Medal of Honor states that “by his remarkable courage in continuing forward through sheer determination despite successive wounds, Lieutenant Nett provided an inspiring example for his men and was instrumental in the capture of a vital strongpoint” and
WHEREAS, Colonel Nett is one of only 208 [in 1992] living winners of the military’s most cherished medal; and
WHEREAS, for his outstanding bravery and unflinching determination in the face of desperately dangerous conditions, Colonel Nett merits the recognition of the State of Georgia, and it is only fitting that his name be perpetuated in an appropriate fashion.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the portion of U. S. Highway 27 beginning at the point where it crosses I-185 east to the Muscogee County line is designated as the Robert B. Nett Medal of Honor Highway.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and directed to place and maintain appropriate markers so designating said highway.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the commissioner of transportation and to Colonel (Ret.) Robert B. Nett.
Approval Date: April 17, 1992.
From the Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, Georgia) October 21, 2008
Retired Col. Robert B. Nett, the last of five Medal of Honor recipients who resided in Columbus, died Sunday. He was 86.
Nett enlisted in the Connecticut National Guard in 1940 and graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1942. His distinguished career included service in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam.
Nett earned the nation’s highest military award for valor on Dec. 14, 1944, for heroic actions during hand-to-hand fighting with Japanese soldiers at their heavily fortified stronghold on the west coast of Leyte near Cognon in the Philippines. The Commander of E Company, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division, Nett spearheaded the assault, killing seven Japanese soldiers with his rifle and bayonet. Though he was seriously wounded three times during the attack, he was later able to rejoin his company and participate in the Okinawa campaign.
“He was the greatest patriot that ever lived in Columbus, Ga.,” said Nett’s long-time friend Jim Rhodes.
Retired U.S. Army Col. Ralph Puckett, considered one of the founders of the modern Rangers, said the inclusion of Nett’s name on the Ranger Memorial located near Infantry Hall at Fort Benning and his membership in the Army Ranger Hall of Fame elevated the prestige of the battalion.
“We’ve lost a real American hero,” he said.
Inspiring generations
Following his retirement from the Army in August of 1973 after 33 years of service, Nett taught for 17 years in the local school system. He held a bachelor
of science degree and teaching certificates in social science and industrial arts. He was named Teacher of the Year in 1985. Two years later, he retired from teaching.
Nett was a frequent lecturer at the Officer Candidate School and a speaker at the 75th Ranger Regiment on Fort Benning. He was also a member of the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.
“Our relationship was one of great respect and admiration for what he had done on active duty and what he continued to do with the OCS battalion,” Puckett said.
Lieutenant Colonel John Shattuck, commander of OCS, called Nett a “hallowed hero” who, up until last spring, took the time to mentor the school’s officer candidates.
“He talked about his experiences and what it meant to be a leader of soldiers in combat,” Shattuck said. “When you have an opportunity to spend time with a Medal of Honor recipient, it’s an honor for anybody.”
Puckett said he saw Nett last week in the hospital.
“I thought how sad it was that such a great soldier, such a great warrior, was lying in that bed, and I knew that we would lose him shortly,” Puckett said. “He was such a great individual, someone who is irreplaceable.”
Rhodes spoke with Nett two weeks ago, just before the colonel was hospitalized at Martin Army Community Hospital. He asked his friend to be an honorary guest at an upcoming Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony he’s helping to organize.
“Colonel Robert Burton Nett will long be remembered for his heroism, his willingness to step forward when America needed him, and his distinguished military
service,” his family stated in a release. “Equally important, however, are his contributions to the community. His mentoring and guidance to the countless students he served in the public school system and his tireless assistance and advice to veterans who came to him for help have earned him the friendship of more people than even he could recall. To virtually his last day, he found himself greeted by those whose lives he had touched and who still had the greatest respect for this great American.”
Veterans advocate
Former Columbus mayor and retired U.S. Col. Bob Poydasheff called Nett a mentor, a father figure, and a friend. “We just liked each other,” Poydasheff said. His relationship with Nett dates back more than 50 years, when Poydasheff was a second lieutenant. “As an infantry officer, he helped me moderate my arrogance,” Poydasheff said with a laugh.
The Columbus attorney said Nett was active in various veterans organizations and in his church. He loved to teach and endeavored to impart on his students the qualities that Puckett, Poydasheff, and Rhodes said Nett personified: Integrity, decency, and love of country.
“I know Colonel Nett, and he didn’t care what your color was or what your religion was. If you were a soldier, he’d support you and bring you to the highest heights,” Poydasheff said.
The repercussions of Nett’s service and generosity were also felt in his home state of Connecticut. Gov. M. Jodi Rell issued the following statement Monday: “Colonel Nett served bravely and honorably throughout his distinguished career. His contributions to his fellow soldiers and community are the hallmarks of dedication. Connecticut is justifiably proud of this native son. He was inducted into the state Veterans Hall of Fame last year, and the leadership hall at Camp Rell bears his name. Our deepest sympathies go out to the Nett family along with our gratitude for his lifetime of valor and service.”
In addition to the many military awards and decorations he earned throughout his career, Nett was selected to receive the Spirit of Hope Award in 2005. It is presented several times annually by the USO to men and women of the United States Armed Forces, entertainers, organizations, and corporations that epitomize the values of the USO in its efforts to support and enhance the quality of life for military servicemen and women and their families and whose patriotism and service reflects that of Bob Hope. Past winners include U.S. Sens, Strom Thurmond and Daniel K. Inouye, longtime CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite, and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, who have entertained the troops for 20 years.
Nett was preceded in death by his parents, Matthew Martin Nett and Emma Miller Nett; his brother, Joseph Frederick Nett; and his sister Doris Nett Manion. He is survived by Frances K. Nett, his wife of 66 years; his son Dr. Robert B. Nett, Jr., and wife Patti Ann Nett, and his grandchildren Erica and Nicholas Nett of San Antonio, Texas; and by his daughter Frances Anne Randall, of Roswell, N.M., and husband Doyle, and his granddaughter Yvonne Michelle Randall of Las Vegas, Nev.
A rosary service will be held at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary on Macon Road at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Visitation will be held at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary from 7-9 p.m., Wednesday. His funeral Mass will be held at the Catholic Chapel on Ingersoll Street, Fort Benning, at 10 a.m. Thursday.
Buried in Fort Benning Post Cemetery, 6551 Fort Benning Blvd, Fort Benning, Georgia; Section E, Site 44A. Photo from FindAGrave.com.
END