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First Name: Robert

Last Name: Dietz

Birthplace: Kingston, NY, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Kingston, NY
Middle Name: H.



Date of Birth: 22 January 1921

Date of Death: 29 March 1945

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Years Served: 1942 - 1945
Robert H. Dietz

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Robert H. Dietz
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Staff Sergeant Robert H. Dietz (22 January 1921 - 29 March 1945) was a U.S. Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during World War II.

Robert H. Dietz was born on 22 January 1921 in Kingston, NY. He also joined the Army at Kingston. On 29 March 1945, he 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.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division.

Place and date: Kirchain, Germany, 29 March 1945.

Citation: 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.

Honors

Dietz Memorial Stadium in Kingston, NY, is named in his honor and memory.

Death and Burial

Staff Sergeant Robert H. Dietz was killed in action on 29 March 1945. He is buried at Wiltwyck Cemetery in his hometown of Kingston, NY. His grave is located in Crescent 6 Section, Lot 2.



Honoree ID: 1369   Created by: MHOH

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