 By December 14, 1944, Nett was a lieutenant in Company E of the 305th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division.On that day, near Cognon, Leyte, during the Battle of Ormoc Bay, Nett led his company in an assault against a heavily fortified Japanese position.Despite being seriously wounded twice in hand-to-hand fighting, he continued to lead his men until being wounded a third time.