MENTMORE — Services for Robert Nez Sr., 82, were 10 a.m., today at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Stake Center. Bishop Jeff Nolte officiated. Burial followed at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Nez Sr. died Jan. 18 in Albuquerque. He was born March 22, 1921 in Cottonwood, Ariz. into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Towering House People Clan.
Nez Sr. attended school in Fort Wingate. He served in the U.S. Army, and jumped in Normandy D-Day and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Bronze Star; Master Jump Wing, 82nd Airborne Div 508; Purple Heart; and Victory Medal. He was a member of the POW and Purple Heart Veteran's Organization. Robert volunteered with the DAV Transportation.
Survivors include his sons, Rudy Nez, Richard Nez, Ronald Nez and Ruben Nez; daughters, Roberta Marinez, Ramona Nez and Rebecca Nez; brothers, John Nez and Carl Tsosie; sisters, Stella Mitchell, Zonnie Tsosie and Leta Tsosie Burbank; 19 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Nez was preceded in death by his son, Robert Nez Jr.; parents, Aheny Bahh and Hosteen Nez Tsosie; and brother, Joe Tsosie.
Pallbearers were Raymond Martinez Jr., Brian Martinez, Christopher Charley, Timothy Charley, Karrie Nez and Gary Chandler.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements |
(courtesy of Randy Smith)
Grave marker for Robert Nez, Sr. in the Santa Fe
National Cemetery, Santa Fe (Santa Fe county), New Mexico.
Robert enlisted at San
Francisco, CA on 7 June 1943.
Pvt Nez was a member
of the Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion and participated in the
jump into Normandy, France on D-Day, 6 June 1944.
Robert was taken
prisoner on 30 June 1944 but may have escaped as by 3 October 1944
he was listed in the Service Company Morning Report as having been
transferred from Hq 3rd.
His military
decorations include the Bronze Service Arrowhead device awarded for
participation in Normandy assault.
He was one of the
508ers shipped home early due to having been POWs. (see
POW's Gain Head
Start) |