Herbert B. Kutac , 101, of Hallettsville, passed away June 19, 2016. He was born on February 3, 1915 to Robert & Wilhemina Knezek Kutac in Praha, TX. He was a member of KJT, VFW Post 6382 and Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Hallettsville.

Herbert served in the US Army as a combat medic during WWII, participating in the Northern Solomons, Luzon, and Southern Philippines campaigns. He served for thirty months and two days, without any leave of duty. Assigned with the medical detachment of the 145 ^th Infantry Regiment, 37 ^th Division, he was a litter-bearer, which included locating wounded soldiers on the front line for both treatment and evacuation to the nearest aid station. These duties required him to be unarmed and often having to carry wounded soldiers on his back during battle. During one such occasion near Manila, Philippines, he was severely wounded while evacuating soldiers after an assault on Japanese fortification, but refused aid until all wounded soldiers were treated and taken to an aid station. These actions resulted in him being awarded the Silver Star, which is the third highest military combat decoration in the armed forces. For his valor and service, he also received the Purple Heart and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal.

Following his service in the Army, Herbert married Viola Olsovsky on October 8, 1946, in Moravia, Texas, later moving to Hallettsville, where they lived and worked on their farmland.

Herbert is survived by: son Andrew Kutac & wife Pamela; daughter Beatrice Jakubek & husband Jim, all of Hallettsville; 6 grandchildren, Brian Jakubek, Susan Jakubek, Julie Jakubek, Martin Kutac, Gail Kutac and Keith Kutac; and great-grandchild Logan Jakubek.

Herbert was preceded in death by: his wife Viola; parents; 2 sons, James and Patrick Kutac; brother Wilibald Kutac; and sister Marcella Kutac.

Funeral Mass Service: 11 am, Thursday, June 23, 2016, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Visitation: 4 pm, Wednesday, at Kubena Funeral Home with Rosary starting at7 pm. Officiant: Msgr. John Peters. Pallbearers: Ralph Kalina, Dennis Olsovsky, Michael Olsovsky, Martin Kutac, Keith Kutac, and Brian Jakubek. Memorials: Donor's Choice. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.