Robert H. Dietz
Encyclopedia
Robert H. Dietz was a United States Army
soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor
—for his actions in World War II
.
, and by March 29, 1945 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company A, 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division. On that day, during an attack on Kirchain, Germany
, he single-handedly killed several German
soldiers defending a bridge into the city and then disabled demolition charges
which had been placed under a second bridge. He was killed by enemy fire immediately afterwards, but had successfully cleared the way for the American troops to enter the city. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor nine months later, on December 17, 1945. Dietz Memorial Stadium in Kingston is named in his honor and memory.
Dietz, aged 24 at his death, was buried at Wiltwyck Cemetery in his hometown of Kingston, New York.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
—for his actions in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Biography
Dietz joined the Army from his birth place of Kingston, New YorkKingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
, and by March 29, 1945 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company A, 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division. On that day, during an attack on Kirchain, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he single-handedly killed several German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
soldiers defending a bridge into the city and then disabled demolition charges
Explosive material
An explosive material, also called an explosive, is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure...
which had been placed under a second bridge. He was killed by enemy fire immediately afterwards, but had successfully cleared the way for the American troops to enter the city. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor nine months later, on December 17, 1945. Dietz Memorial Stadium in Kingston is named in his honor and memory.
Dietz, aged 24 at his death, was buried at Wiltwyck Cemetery in his hometown of Kingston, New York.
Medal of Honor citation
Staff Sergeant Dietz's official Medal of Honor citation reads: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 bazookaBazookaBazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
team defending the first bridge. He continued ahead and had killed another bazooka team, bayoneted an enemy soldier armed with a panzerfaustPanzerfaustThe Panzerfaust was an inexpensive, recoilless German anti-tank weapon of World War II. It consisted of a small, disposable preloaded launch tube firing a high explosive anti-tank warhead, operated by a single soldier...
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.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II