James E. Robinson Jr.

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.

Robinson joined the Army from Waco, Texas in 1937,^[1] and by April 6, 1945 was serving as a first lieutenant in Battery A, 861st Field Artillery Battalion, 63rd Infantry Division. During The Battle of Buchhof and Stein am Kocher,^[2] near Untergriesheim, Germany, he led his company in an attack against German lines. Although severely wounded, he refused medical attention and continued on until the objective had been taken. He died of his wounds later that day. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on December 11, 1945.

Robinson, aged 26 at his death, was buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas.

Medal of Honor citation

First Lieutenant Robinson's official Medal of Honor citation reads:^[3]

He was a field artillery forward 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 machinegun, 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 communication 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 2 miles to an aid station where he died from his wound. By his intrepid leadership 1st Lt. Robinson was directly responsible for Company A's accomplishing its mission against tremendous odds.

Namesake

The USNS Lt. James E. Robinson (T-AK-274) was named in his honor.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

References

• "James E. Robinson Jr.". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2007-11-08. 
• "Medal of Honor recipients - World War II (M-S)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Retrieved 2007-11-08.