Medal of Honor: Robert H. Dietz – World War II – March 29, 1945

Name: Robert H. Dietz
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: Company A, 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division
Date of Action: March 29, 1945
Location: Kirchain, Germany

Summary of Action

On 29 March 1945, Staff Sergeant Robert H. Dietz was serving as a squad leader during the advance on Kirchain, Germany.

The task force to which his unit was attached had been stopped outside the town. Between the stalled armored column and the buildings ahead lay a minefield and two bridges prepared for demolition.

German bazooka teams, riflemen, and heavy small-arms fire from the town covered every approach.

Dietz moved forward with his men to protect engineers attempting to clear the mines and remove demolition charges from the bridges.

Under intense enemy fire, he saw the attack faltering.

On his own initiative, he advanced alone.

Ignoring bullets striking around him, Dietz pushed forward until he reached the first bridge and killed the enemy bazooka team defending it.

He continued onward toward the second bridge.

There he killed another bazooka team, bayoneted a German soldier armed with a panzerfaust, and shot two more enemy troops.

Moments later, a blast from another panzerfaust knocked him to the ground.

Dietz rose immediately, killed the man who had fired on him, and pressed on.

Then, with the route still blocked, he jumped into waist-deep water beneath the second bridge and disconnected the demolition charges.

His mission complete, he stood to signal that the way was clear.

At that instant, enemy fire from the left flank struck and killed him.

By his self-imposed mission and fearless sacrifice, Robert H. Dietz single-handedly opened the road for the capture of Kirchain and left an enduring example of courage against overwhelming odds.

Medal of Honor Citation

DIETZ, ROBERT H.

He was a squad leader when the task force to which his unit was attached encountered resistance in its advance on Kirchain, Germany. Between the town’s outlying buildings 300 yards distant, and the stalled armored column were a minefield and 2 bridges defended by German rocket-launching teams and riflemen. From the town itself came heavy small-arms fire. Moving forward with his men to protect engineers while they removed the minefield and the demolition charges attached to the bridges, S/Sgt. Dietz came under intense fire. On his own initiative he advanced alone, scorning the bullets which struck all around him, until he was able to kill the bazooka team defending the first bridge. He continued ahead and had killed another bazooka team, bayoneted an enemy soldier armed with a panzerfaust and shot 2 Germans when he was knocked to the ground by another blast of another panzerfaust. He quickly recovered, killed the man who had fired at him and then jumped into waist-deep water under the second bridge to disconnect the demolition charges. His work was completed; but as he stood up to signal that the route was clear, he was killed by another enemy volley from the left flank. S/Sgt. Dietz by his intrepidity and valiant effort on his self-imposed mission, single-handedly opened the road for the capture of Kirchain and left with his comrades an inspiring example of gallantry in the face of formidable odds.