Gunnery Sergeant Robert Guy Robinson was a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 14, 1918 in Pittham, Belgium during World War I. At the time he was serving with 1st Marine Aviation Force. Robinson was 22 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 11, 1920, 2 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant (promoted on retired list.
Robinson was born on April 30, 1896 in New York, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Robinson died on October 5, 1974, at the age of 78. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Robinson is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 210 credited to Illinois.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For extraordinary heroism as observer in the 1st Marine Aviation Force at the front in France. In company with planes from Squadron 218, Royal Air Force, conducting an air raid on 8 October 1918, GSgt. Robinson's plane was attacked by nine enemy scouts. In the fight which followed, he shot down one of the enemy planes. In a later air raid over Pittham, Belgium, on 14 October 1918, his plane and one other became separated from their formation on account of motor trouble and were attacked by 12 enemy scouts. Acting with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in the fight which ensued, GSgt. Robinson, after shooting down one of the enemy planes, was struck by a bullet which carried away most of his elbow. At the same time his gun jammed. While his pilot maneuvered for position, he cleared the jam with one hand and returned to the fight. Although his left arm was useless, he fought off the enemy scouts until he collapsed after receiving two more bullet wounds, one in the stomach and one in the thigh.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Although his left arm was useless, he fought off the enemy scouts until he collapsed after receiving two more bullet wounds, one in the stomach and one in the thigh.
- Age at death: 78
- Resting place: Arlington National Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →
Timeline
- April 30, 1896Born in New York, New York
- October 14, 1918Act of valor — Pittham, BelgiumAge 22. 1st Marine Aviation Force
- November 11, 1920Medal of Honor presented
- October 5, 1974DiedAge 78.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Robert Guy Robinson (April 30, 1894 – October 5, 1974) was a United States Marine Corps first lieutenant who earned the Medal of Honor as a gunnery sergeant during World War I.
From the Wikipedia article “Robert G. Robinson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
