James E. J. Robinson Jr (1918 - 1945)

Born 10 Jul 1918 in Toledo, Ohio, United States

Died 6 Apr 1945 at age 26 in Untergriesheim, Germany

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Enlisted in Waco

1Lt James Robinson Jr was Killed in Action during World War II.

1Lt James Robinson Jr was Wounded in Action during World War II.

James Robinson Jr was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Biography

First Lieutenant James E. Robinson, Junior, WWII KIA Army, MOH recipient

First Lieutenant James E. Robinson, Junior

Unit: Battery A, 861st Field Artillery Battalion, 63rd Infantry Division

During The Battle of Buchhof and Stein am Kocher, 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.

Place of burial: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas

Medal of Honor

• RANK: FIRST LIEUTENANT
• CONFLICT/ERA: WORLD WAR II
• UNIT/COMMAND: BATTERY A, 861ST FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 63D INFANTRY DIVISION
• MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. ARMY
• MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: APRIL 6, 1945
• MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION PLACE: NEAR UNTERGRIESHEIM, GERMANY

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.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Congressional Medal of Honor Society retrieved 2 Jan 2023

• First Lieutenant James E. Robinson, Junior