General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

hY one, plunged through a hail of bullets toward the American lines, fired burst
after burst into the swarming enemy. Three of his companions were wounded
in their dash for safety and he was struck by a bullet which entere8 his
stomach and, passing through his body, emerged from his back. Overcoming
agonizing pain, he regained control of himself and resumed his firiug position,
delivering a protective screen of bullcts until aU others of the patrol werc
safe. By field telephoue, he called for artillery and mortar fire on the Ger-
mans and corrected the range until he had shells falling within 50 yards of
his position. For 15 minules he refused to be dislodged by more than 200
of the enemy, then seeing that the barrage had broken the counternllnck, he
dragged himself back to his own lines. He later died as a result of his wounds.
Through his valiant, intrepid stand and at the cost of his own life, Private
Valdez rnade it possible for his comrades to escaw and was directly responsible
for repulsing an attack by vastly supcrior enemy forccs.
II..MEDAZ OF HONOR.-By direction of the President, under the prorisions
of the act of Congress approved 9 July 1018 (WD Bul. 43, 1918). a Medal of
Honor far conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of liIr above and
beyond the call of duty was awarded by the War Dcpartmellt in thc namc of
Congress to the fallowing-named oficer:
Captain Robert B. Nett (then first lieute11:mt). 013C1%318, comlunnded Colnpnny
E, 805th Infantry Regiment, Army of the United Btates, on 14 December
1944, near Cognan, Leyte, Philippine Islands, in an attack against a reinfore&
encmy battalion which had hcld up the American admnce for 2 days from its
entrenched positions around a three-story concrcte building. With amlther
infantry eompang aud armored vehicles, Company E advnnced against heavy
machine-gvn and other automatic~wcapons fire with Lieutenant Nett swdrheading
the assault agninst the strong -. mint. During . tbe fierce hnnd-to-hand en-
Counter rhicb ensued, he killed seven deeply entrenehcd Japanese with his rifle
and bayonet and, although seriously woundcd, gallantly eontinucd to lead his
mcn forn-ard, refusing to relinquish his command. Again he was sevcrely
wounded, hut, still unwilling to retire, pressed alicad with his troolls to assure
the capture of the objective. Wounded once mare in thc final assault, he enlrnly
made all nrrangemcnts for thc resumption of the ad~ance, turncd over his command
to another uflieer, and then walked unaided to thc rear for medicnl
treatment. Dy his remarkable courage in continuing forward through sheer
determination, despite successive wounds, Lieutenant Nett provided an ins~liring
example for his men and was instrumental in the capture of a vital Japanese
stronghold.
NI..DISTINGUISHED-SERVICE CROSS.-By direction of the President,
Under the provisions of the act of Congress approved 8 July 19l8 (WD Uul. 43,
1918), the Distin,wishcd-Service Crass for exlraordinary heroism in action
against an enemy was ilnarded by the War Department to the following-named
oficer :
Captain Joh~ P. Runyon, 01324872, Infantry, Army al the United States,
heroically led Campmy C, 370th Infantry Regiment, in an assault on the German's
Gothic Linc near Montignosa, Italy, an 5 April 1045. \Thilc other ele
ments of the attacking force Nerc able to make only limited gains, he accomplished
nn ndvnnce of nearly 2 miles against strong enemy forces adrantageousls
placed on high ground. Farced Lo withdraw when support of the deep
penetration failed, he rctuvned with thc remnants of his campmy, learing
behind 26 enemy dead, uncounted wounded, and a trail of haroc, which included
AGO 30GZR