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, 2d 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 machinegun 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 strongpoint.