James E. Robinson Jr. and his Medal of Honor Charge in Normandy

Dec 15 , 2025

James E. Robinson Jr. and his Medal of Honor Charge in Normandy

James E. Robinson Jr. locked eyes on the hellfire ahead. Bullets screamed past like death’s own choir. The ground shook. Men fell, others ran—chaos incarnate. But Robinson moved forward. Beyond fear. Beyond reason. His voice cracked a command through the storm: “Come on! We’re not leaving anyone behind.” In that moment, he became more than a soldier. He became their lifeline.

The Roots of a Warrior

Born in Marion, North Carolina, James E. Robinson Jr. carried the rugged grit of Appalachia in his bones. Raised by a steadfast mother, his faith was iron-forged. Church was sanctuary. Scripture was armor.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” — Philippians 4:13

This wasn’t just a verse—it was his battle cry and his code. Baptized in hard work and quiet resolve, Robinson embodied honor not as a concept but as breath itself. When the war came to test him, it found something unbreakable.

The Battle That Defined Him

August 27, 1944. Noonday sun turned Normandy’s fields into a crucible. Captain Robinson’s 761st Tank Battalion hit a wall of German infantry and entrenched machine guns near Serrières, France. The attack screeched to a halt.

Enemy fire pinned down his unit, mired in mud and blood. Sensing the choke point, Robinson took charge with raw instinct. He left the relative safety of his tank and led a desperate, frontal assault across 100 yards of open terrain.

Despite withering fire, Robinson’s shout rallied his men. He drew enemy marksmen from exposed positions by running forward alone, forcing their heads up just long enough for his squad to advance.

His determination carved a breach where none should have been possible. The enemy line shattered. His men surged through. The objective was secured.

He sustained wounds but refused evacuation until the mission was complete—commanding under fire, refusing to let chaos win.

Honors Earned in Blood

For that day, Robinson was awarded the Medal of Honor on February 1, 1946. The citation reads:

“Captain Robinson’s extraordinary heroism and unparalleled courage under fire saved his unit from annihilation and secured the victory.”

Generals in Washington praised his gallantry. But it was the men he led who knew the cost and meaning behind the medal. Sergeant Raymond L. Poole recalled:

“He ran into machine-gun fire like a man possessed—like he had a purpose bigger than himself. If you’d asked me then, I’d have said he was part preacher, part warrior.”

Every inch of his citation came stamped in sacrifice.

Legacy Etched in Valor

James E. Robinson Jr. carved his legacy out of courage under fire, faith under pressure, and leadership when the world seemed lost to violence.

His story is a testament: courage is not the absence of fear. It is action despite fear. It is a refusal to watch your brothers fall without giving everything you have.

To veterans, his life whispers the unyielding code—lead from the front, shield the weak, fight with honor no matter the odds. To civilians, it echoes the stark truth that freedom demands blood and unbreakable resolve.

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” — Psalm 116:15

James E. Robinson Jr.’s scars tell a story written in sweat and sacrifice—a story that honors the fallen by standing tall and moving forward, no matter the cost.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II” 2. Army Historical Foundation, 761st Tank Battalion Unit History 3. Medal of Honor citation, James E. Robinson Jr., National Archives 4. Poole, Raymond L., Brothers in Battle: Voices from the 761st