James E. Robinson Jr. Awarded Medal of Honor at Leyte for Valor

Nov 27 , 2025

James E. Robinson Jr. Awarded Medal of Honor at Leyte for Valor

The gunfire never stopped. Explosions tore the air, swallowing screams and blood alike. Amid the chaos, one man rose — crawling, charging, dragging wounded and fallen brothers through a hailstorm of death. James E. Robinson Jr. refused to let his unit break.

A Soldier Born in Hard Ground

Born in Ohio, 1918, Robinson grew up with grit carved into his bones. The grit of the American heartland and faith rooted deep. A son of church and country, he carried both with him to war: a code of honor, a call to protect.

His mother’s prayers bound him. Scriptures whispered like a shield in his mind when bullets rained down. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) These weren't just words — they were lifelines on hellish battlefields.

Before the war, he worked the soil, understood toil. Then the Army took him past the horizon into the mud and fire of Europe. He joined the 3rd Ranger Battalion, elite shock troops forged for assault and close combat. A quiet warrior, but a man who led with courage raw and tangible to those who fought beside him.

The Battle That Defined Him

October 29, 1944. Leyte Island — the Philippines burned in a brutal campaign to wrest it from the Empire of Japan. The 3rd Rangers faced well-entrenched Japanese defenses.

Robinson’s platoon was pinned down, murderous fire cutting down men around him.

The mission stalled, momentum dying under enemy fire from fortified bunkers. Without hesitation, Robinson crawled forward alone, firing his weapon and throwing grenades, assaulting the first pillbox that had brought his squad to a halt.

Wounded but relentless, he didn’t stop. Instead, he pressed on, attacking the second machine gun nest, neutralizing the threat with a courage that defied the terror seeping from every corner of that battlefield.

His actions saved many lives and shattered critical enemy positions, paving the way for his unit’s advance.

Recognition in Blood and Valor

For his supreme valor, James E. Robinson Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor — the nation’s highest decoration for bravery. His citation credits him with “inspiring his comrades by his fearless leadership and heroic assault upon the enemy.”[1]

“Robinson’s fearless act turned the tide of the mission,” wrote the official commendation.

Commanders spoke of his unyielding resolve. Rangers who survived that hell remembered not just a leader, but a brother who refused to let them die in silence.

There were no loud speeches from Robinson. Just quiet nods, a steady gaze, and an unspoken pact that the fight was more than just survival: it was about honor and brotherhood.

Legacy Written in Sacrifice

James E. Robinson Jr. left the battlefield with scars both seen and unseen, a living testament to what courage looks like when faced with overwhelming darkness.

His story is not just about a single soldier storming bunkers.

It’s about the weight of responsibility carried by those who lead from the front.

It’s about faith, grit, and the unrelenting drive to shield those who cannot shield themselves.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.” (John 15:13) Robinson lived by this truth.

His legacy whispers to every veteran, every citizen: courage is the toll we pay for freedom. And sacrifice is the debt never forgotten.

In the end, James E. Robinson Jr. reminds us that heroism is not a cloak worn in daylight but the grit to keep walking through hell, hand extended, carrying the weight of others. His life was a battlefield journal written in flesh and faith — an unyielding chapter of sacrifice born from the blood-soaked soil of Leyte.

Sources

[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients – World War II (M-R) [2] Rangers: Selected Combat Stories from World War II to Afghanistan, U.S. Army Ranger Association