MoH recipient Col. Robert Nett dies
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Oct 20, 2008 20:51:40 EDT
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Col. Robert B. Nett, who won the Medal of Honor for heroism in combat in the Philippines during World War II and later served in the Korean War and Vietnam, has died at 86.
Fort Benning spokeswoman Elsie Jackson said Nett died Sunday after a brief illness.
Nett, a New Haven, Conn. native who enlisted in Connecticut National Guard in 1940, was sent into combat on Christmas Island shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was soon sent to Fort Benning and graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1942.
Nett was a company commander in December 1944 when he led an assault on a Japanese stronghold. He was seriously wounded three times during the attack but killed seven enemy soldiers with his rifle and bayonet. He later rejoined his unit and fought on Okinawa.
He helped train South Korean soldiers during the Korean conflict and was an adviser to Vietnamese troops during the war in Vietnam.
After 33 years of military service, Nett retired and spent 17 years as a teacher in the Columbus school system.
He is a member of the Army Ranger Hall of Fame and received the USO’s Spirit of Hope award.
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Oct 20, 2008 20:51:40 EDT
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Col. Robert B. Nett, who won the Medal of Honor for heroism in combat in the Philippines during World War II and later served in the Korean War and Vietnam, has died at 86.
Fort Benning spokeswoman Elsie Jackson said Nett died Sunday after a brief illness.
Nett, a New Haven, Conn. native who enlisted in Connecticut National Guard in 1940, was sent into combat on Christmas Island shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was soon sent to Fort Benning and graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1942.
Nett was a company commander in December 1944 when he led an assault on a Japanese stronghold. He was seriously wounded three times during the attack but killed seven enemy soldiers with his rifle and bayonet. He later rejoined his unit and fought on Okinawa.
He helped train South Korean soldiers during the Korean conflict and was an adviser to Vietnamese troops during the war in Vietnam.
After 33 years of military service, Nett retired and spent 17 years as a teacher in the Columbus school system.
He is a member of the Army Ranger Hall of Fame and received the USO’s Spirit of Hope award.
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