MOH

Medal of Honor: Robert B. Nett – World War II – December 14, 1944

Wounded again and again in brutal hand-to-hand fighting, one infantry officer refused to relinquish command—pressing the assault with rifle and bayonet until a Japanese strongpoint that had stalled the advance for two days was finally broken.

December 16, 2025

Name: Robert B. Nett
Rank: Captain (then Lieutenant)
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company E, 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division
Place and Date: Near Cognon, Leyte, Philippine Islands – 14 December 1944
Entered Service At: New Haven, Connecticut
Born: New Haven, Connecticut
Departed: Survived
Accredited To: Connecticut

Summary of Action

On December 14, 1944, near Cognon on the island of Leyte, Lieutenant Robert B. Nett commanded Company E during an assault against a reinforced Japanese battalion that had halted the American advance for two days. The enemy was deeply entrenched around a massive three-story concrete structure, dominating the surrounding terrain with machine guns and automatic weapons.

With another infantry company and armored support, Nett led Company E forward under intense fire. Spearheading the attack himself, he drove directly into the heart of the enemy strongpoint. The fight devolved into savage, close-quarters combat. Amid the chaos, Nett personally killed seven Japanese soldiers using his rifle and bayonet.

Though seriously wounded during the engagement, he refused evacuation and continued to lead his men forward. Wounded again, he pressed on, determined to ensure the objective was taken. Even after suffering a third wound during the final assault, Nett remained calm and composed. Only after arranging for the continuation of the advance and turning over command to another officer did he finally withdraw—walking unaided to the rear for medical treatment.

His refusal to quit, even as his wounds mounted, inspired his men to press the attack and was decisive in breaking a fortified position that had resisted repeated assaults.

Medal of Honor Citation

NETT, ROBERT B.
Rank and organization: Captain (then Lieutenant), U.S. Army, Company E, 305th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Cognon, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 14 December 1944.
Entered service at: New Haven, Conn.
Birth: New Haven, Conn.
G.O. No.: 16, 8 February 1946.

Citation:
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.