Staff Sergeant Robert Dietz (1921-1945) was a Kingston native, soldier in the United States Army and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for valor.

Dietz served as a squad leader in Company A, 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division during World War II. During the battle for Kirchain, Germany in March 1945, Dietz braved heavy enemy fire to kill several enemy bazooka teams, bayoneted an enemy soldier, shot 3 German soldiers, all in his pursuit to prevent the enemy from using demolition charges set to blow up two bridges that were vital to the American attack on Kirchain. He succeeded in killing several teams of enemy soldiers protecting the first bridge and personally dismantled the charges on the second bridge but “as he stood up to signal that the route was clear, he was killed by another enemy volley from the left flank.”

Dietz is buried at Wiltwyck Cemetery in Kingston. Dietz Memorial Stadium in uptown Kingston and the Staff Sgt. Robert H. Dietz Post Office are both named in his honor.

Medal of HonorWiltwyck Cemetery, Kingston, Ulster County

Staff Sergeant Robert Dietz (1921-1945) was a Kingston native, soldier in the United States Army and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for valor. Dietz served as a squad leader in Company A, 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division during World War II. During the battle for Kirchain, Germany in March 1945, Dietz braved heavy enemy fire to kill several enemy bazooka teams, bayoneted an enemy soldier, shot 3 German soldiers, all in his pursuit to prevent the enemy from using demolition charges set to blow up two bridges that were vital to the American attack on Kirchain. He succeeded in killing several teams of enemy soldiers protecting the first bridge and personally dismantled the charges on the second bridge but “as as he stood up to signal that the route was clear, he was killed by another enemy volley from the left flank.” Dietz is buried at Wiltwyck Cemetery in Kingston. Dietz Memorial Stadium in uptown Kingston and the Staff Sgt. Robert H. Dietz Post Office are both named in his honor.

Medal of HonorWiltwyck Cemetery, Kingston, Ulster County

Staff Sergeant Robert Dietz (1921-1945) was a Kingston native, soldier in the United States Army and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for valor. Dietz served as a squad leader in Company A, 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division during World War II. During the battle for Kirchain, Germany in March 1945, Dietz braved heavy enemy fire to kill several enemy bazooka teams, bayoneted an enemy soldier, shot 3 German soldiers, all in his pursuit to prevent the enemy from using demolition charges set to blow up two bridges that were vital to the American attack on Kirchain. He succeeded in killing several teams of enemy soldiers protecting the first bridge and personally dismantled the charges on the second bridge but “as as he stood up to signal that the route was clear, he was killed by another enemy volley from the left flank.” Dietz is buried at Wiltwyck Cemetery in Kingston. Dietz Memorial Stadium in uptown Kingston and the Staff Sgt. Robert H. Dietz Post Office are both named in his honor.

Medal of HonorWiltwyck Cemetery, Kingston, Ulster County

Staff Sergeant Robert Dietz (1921-1945) was a Kingston native, soldier in the United States Army and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for valor. Dietz served as a squad leader in Company A, 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division during World War II. During the battle for Kirchain, Germany in March 1945, Dietz braved heavy enemy fire to kill several enemy bazooka teams, bayoneted an enemy soldier, shot 3 German soldiers, all in his pursuit to prevent the enemy from using demolition charges set to blow up two bridges that were vital to the American attack on Kirchain. He succeeded in killing several teams of enemy soldiers protecting the first bridge and personally dismantled the charges on the second bridge but “as as he stood up to signal that the route was clear, he was killed by another enemy volley from the left flank.” Dietz is buried at Wiltwyck Cemetery in Kingston. Dietz Memorial Stadium in uptown Kingston and the Staff Sgt. Robert H. Dietz Post Office are both named in his honor.