Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant James E. Robinson Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on April 6, 1945 near Untergriesheim, Germany during World War II. At the time he was serving with Battery A, 861st Field Artillery Battalion, 63d Infantry Division. Robinson was 26 years old.
Robinson was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Robinson was born on July 10, 1918 in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Waco, McLennan County, Texas. He is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
Robinson is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 78 credited to Texas.
Official Medal of Honor citation
He was a field artillery observer attached to Company A, 253d Infantry, near Untergriesheim, Germany, on 6 April 1945. Eight hours of desperate fighting over open terrain swept by German machine-gun, mortar, and small-arms fire had decimated Company A, robbing it of its commanding officer and most of its key enlisted personnel, when 1st Lt. Robinson rallied the 23 remaining uninjured riflemen and a few walking wounded, and, while carrying his heavy radio for communications with American batteries, led them through intense fire in a charge against the objective. Ten German infantrymen in foxholes threatened to stop the assault, but the gallant leader killed them all at point-blank range with rifle and pistol fire and then pressed on with his men to sweep the area of all resistance. Soon afterward he was ordered to seize the defended town of Kressbach. He went to each of the 19 exhausted survivors with cheering words, instilling in them courage and fortitude, before leading the little band forward once more. In the advance he was seriously wounded in the throat by a shell fragment, but, despite great pain and loss of blood, he refused medical attention and continued the attack, directing supporting artillery fire even though he was mortally wounded. Only after the town had been taken and he could no longer speak did he leave the command he had inspired in victory and walk nearly two miles to an aid station where he died from his wounds. By his intrepid leadership 1st Lt. Robinson was directly responsible for Company A's accomplishing its mission against tremendous odds.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
In the advance he was seriously wounded in the throat by a shell fragment, but, despite great pain and loss of blood, he refused medical attention and continued the attack, directing supporting artillery fire even though he was mortally wounded.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (April 6, 1945).
- Age at death: 26
- Resting place: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, James E. Robinson Jr. received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Timeline
- July 10, 1918Born in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio
- April 6, 1945Act of valor — near Untergriesheim, GermanyAge 26. Battery A, 861st Field Artillery Battalion, 63d Infantry Division Killed in action.
- Resting placeFort Sam Houston National CemeterySan Antonio, Texas
Biography
James E. Robinson Jr. (July 10, 1918 – April 6, 1945) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II near Neuenstadt am Kocher, Germany in 1945.
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