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<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nMy old Ranger buddy, Jack Hennessy, is a state legislator in Connecticut these days and according to the New Haven Register<\/a>, he’s working an issue he has concerning the naming of a National Guard Training Center. Connecticut has two Medal of Honor recipients who served in Connecticut National Guard units, Robert B. Nett and Lee R. Hartell. Lieutenant Hartell<\/a> was awarded his Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions in Korea and the Connecticut National Guard has named Camp Hartell in his memory.<\/p>\n Robert Nett earned his Medal of Honor in the Pacific during World War II also as a member of the Connecticut National Guard and as lieutenant. He later went on to serve in the Korean War and eventually the Vietnam War serving for 33 years. Before he retired as a colonel, he was listed in the Officer Candidate School and Ranger Halls of Fame because of the work he did with those two programs. He passed away in 2008 at the age of 86 years.<\/p>\n Jack Hennessy, at the request of military and veterans’ groups, wants to rename “Camp Niantic” to “Camp Nett” in his honor. Niantic is named for the town outside the gates. From what I am told, the process to honor Nett is being blocked by a local state representative, Holly Cheeseman, who prefers the camp named after the town it resides in, rather than honor a true hero like Col. Nett. <\/p>\n Two of Nett\u2019s supporters from New Haven\u2019s 102nd Infantry Regiment, which Nett joined in 1940 as a 17-year-old Hillhouse High School student, don\u2019t understand why the issue has become politicized. The roadblock also frustrates state Rep. Jack Hennessy, D-Bridgeport, co-chairman of the Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, who sponsored House Bill 6285 at the request of military and veterans groups.<\/p>\n They point out that Nett is one of just two Connecticut-native Medal of Honor winners who served in the National Guard. The other, Lt. Lee \u201cJack\u201d Hartell, has a camp named for him in Windsor Locks. \u201cIt\u2019s a slap in the face to anybody who served, anybody who\u2019s serving and to anybody who\u2019s serving in the future,\u201d said retired Brig. Gen. Dan McHale of Avon, who has been on a mission to honor Nett since the camp\u2019s name was last changed in 2010. \u201cThis is probably the most decorated Connecticut veteran, a leader and a mentor.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I think it is time to spread the word to bombard Holly Cheeseman’s office with emails\/calls letting her know just what we think of her efforts to prevent a Medal of Honor recipient from this honor that he deserves in order to save her own political skin. Her direct office line is (860) 240-8761 and her email is Holly.Cheeseman@cga.ct.gov. <\/p>\n House Bill No. 6285 read<\/a>s;<\/p>\n AN ACT RENAMING THE STATE MILITARY TRAINING FACILITY IN NIANTIC AS CAMP NETT.<\/p>\n Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:<\/p>\n Section 1. Section 27-39a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):<\/p>\n The state military training facility in Niantic shall be named Camp [Niantic] Nett. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n From Colonel Nett’s MoH citation<\/a>;<\/p>\n Rank and organization: Captain (then Lieutenant), U.S. Army, Company E, 305th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Cognon, Leyte, Philippine Islands, 14 December 1944. Entered service at: New Haven, Conn. Birth: 13 June 1922, New Haven, Conn. G.O. No.: 16, 8 February 1946. Citation: He commanded Company E in an attack against a reinforced enemy battalion which had held up the American advance for 2 days from its entrenched positions around a 3 story concrete building. With another infantry company and armored vehicles, Company E advanced against heavy machine-gun and other automatic weapons fire with Lt. Nett spearheading the assault against the strongpoint. During the fierce hand to hand encounter which ensued, he killed 7 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, Lt. Nett provided an inspiring example for his men and was instrumental in the capture of a vital strongpoint.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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