▁military ' s ▁highest ▁decor ation — the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor — for ▁his ▁actions ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁ ▁Biography ▁Diet z ▁joined ▁the ▁Army ▁from ▁his ▁birth place ▁of ▁King ston , ▁New ▁York ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁and ▁by ▁March ▁ 2 9 , ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁was ▁serving ▁as ▁a ▁Staff ▁Serge ant ▁in ▁Company ▁A , ▁ 3 8 th ▁Arm ored ▁Infantry ▁Battalion , ▁ 7 th ▁Arm ored ▁Division . ▁On ▁that ▁day , ▁during ▁an ▁attack ▁on ▁Kir chain , ▁Germany , ▁he ▁single - hand edly ▁killed ▁several ▁German ▁soldiers ▁def ending ▁a ▁bridge ▁into ▁the ▁city ▁and ▁then ▁disabled ▁demol ition ▁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 ▁post hum ously ▁awarded ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁nine ▁months ▁later , ▁on ▁December ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁ ▁Diet z ▁Memorial ▁Stadium ▁in ▁King ston ▁is ▁named ▁in ▁his ▁honor ▁and ▁memory . ▁ ▁Diet z , ▁age ▁ 2 4 ▁at ▁his ▁death , ▁was ▁buried ▁at ▁W ilt wy ck ▁C emetery ▁in ▁his ▁h omet own ▁of ▁King ston , ▁New ▁York . ▁ ▁Awards ▁and ▁Dec or ations ▁ ▁A part ▁from ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁Robert ▁H . ▁Diet z ▁received ▁these ▁awards