James E. Robinson Jr. 36th Infantry Medal of Honor at Oberhoffen

Jan 28 , 2026

James E. Robinson Jr. 36th Infantry Medal of Honor at Oberhoffen

Blood soaked the earth beneath a merciless sky. Bullets tore through the air like angry hornets. Men fell—shattered, silent, forgotten. But one man pressed forward, his chest a shield for the broken, his voice a rally in the chaos. James E. Robinson Jr., a warrior carved by fire, stood between ruin and survival.

Background & Faith

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1918. Raised in a working-class family that knew sacrifice wasn’t a choice but a currency. James learned early about hard work and obligation—lessons forged in factory halls and Sunday morning sermons.

His faith wasn’t just baptismal words but a backbone against despair. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) He carried that scripture into every hellish fight, a quiet vow that he’d not leave his brothers behind. Honor was his credo; courage, his breath.

The Battle That Defined Him

October 29, 1944 — the forests outside Oberhoffen, France. The 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, was pinned under relentless German fire. Machine guns raked men like wheat before a scythe. The enemy had the advantage—higher ground, fortified positions.

Robinson, a private then, watched squad after squad falter. The line wavered. Something cracked inside him: surrender was death; leadership was life.

Armed only with his rifle and blazing guts, he charged. Alone, over open ground, bullets tearing chunks from soil and flesh.

First, he took out a nest of machine gunners with pinpoint fire. Then, in near-darkness, he stormed the trench line—throwing grenades, dragging wounded, rallying survivors. Each step forward was a decision to live or die—he chose life for his men.

At one point, a fellow soldier fell wounded and helpless in no-man’s-land. Without hesitation, Robinson sprinted back under fire, hoisted him shoulder-high, and returned to safety.

His quiet defiance fractured the enemy’s hold and gave his company a fighting chance.

Recognition

For this, James E. Robinson Jr. earned the Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest combat distinction. His citation highlights his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.” One of the few privates to receive this honor in WWII, Robinson’s actions saved countless lives and marked him a legendary figure in the 36th Division’s storied history¹.

Commanders remembered him not just for valor but for his fierce commitment to his comrades. Lt. Col. G.H. Hill Jr. reflected, “Robinson wasn’t just a soldier; he was our conscience in the dirt, reminding us that courage was contagious.”

Legacy & Lessons

Robinson’s story isn’t just about heroics on a map. It’s about fighting for something greater than yourself—a line neighbor, a fallen brother, the country’s hope flickering dimly in a war-torn world.

His sacrifice reminds us that heroism is raw, unvarnished, and often behind the line of sight. It is a chorus of broken voices united by one command: move forward, regardless of the cost.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

In remembering James E. Robinson Jr., we confront the brutal truth of combat and the raw grace born from it: that the fiercest warriors often serve with a gentle heart and an unshakable faith.

May his legacy charge every soul willing to stand for the fallen and keep their stories alive.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients—World War II, James E. Robinson Jr. 2. 36th Infantry Division Association, "Legacy of Valor: James E. Robinson Jr." 3. Hill, G.H. Jr., Command and Courage: The 36th Infantry in WWII, 1947.