The Japanese position along the Antilao had defied American attacks for days. A three-story concrete building had been turned into a fortress which withstood all types of fire including a concentrated bombardment by all four of the 77th Infantry Division’s artillery battalions. Maj. Gen. Andrew Bruce, commanding the American division, had been saddled with a War Department “observer” who he now sent to the front to command a special attack force to take out the seemingly-impregnable blockhouse.

In what amounted to a brutal frontal assault, the Americans fought their way forward practically yard by yard. Col. Paul Freeman, tossed into the front lines, brought his ad hoc force to the edge of the entrenchments surrounding the concrete building but could not break in. At that point Lt. Robert Nett rose and led his men in a wild bayonet charge through heavy machine-gun fire and into the Japanese trenches where he personally bayonetted seven Japanese. Wounded three times, Nett shot and stabbed his way into the building, where his men wiped out the Japanese. Freeman gave him a direct order to seek medical treatment, but the lieutenant refused a stretcher and walked away unaided. He would receive the Medal of Honor and a promotion to captain.