James E. Robinson Jr. Earned the Medal of Honor at Leyte

Feb 06 , 2026

James E. Robinson Jr. Earned the Medal of Honor at Leyte

James E. Robinson Jr. did not just run toward the fire—he tore through it. Bullets ripping the air, grenades exploding nearby, men falling in bloody heaps—still, he pushed forward. Alone, outnumbered, intangible will wrapped in human flesh. His was a leap of faith, a defiance born not of recklessness but relentless purpose. He saved his platoon by becoming the spear through the enemy’s throat.

Background & Faith

Born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, in 1918, James Robinson’s roots were humble but sturdy. A man tempered by hard living and a faith that wrapped around him like armor. Raised in a devout family, he carried the quiet strength of scripture and prayer into every mission.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield,” he would later reflect, echoing Psalm 28:7. Faith wasn’t a mere consolation for Robinson; it was a call to action. A warrior’s creed forged in church pews as much as on training fields. He understood the battlefield as more than terrain—it was a crucible of sacrifice and brotherhood. Where principles traded shots with chaos.

The Battle That Defined Him

October 29, 1944, near Leyte, Philippine Islands.

The enemy had dug in like ghosts from hell. The 1st Infantry Division was pinned, losing ground and hope. Bold men fell, caught in razor-wire traps and hailstorms of bullets. The task was simple in order, impossible in practice: break the enemy line to save the unit.

Robinson charged.

He led his squad under heavy fire without hesitation. Over the barbed wire. Into the killing fields. The citation tells of his single-minded fury—single-handedly neutralizing multiple enemy positions. Grenades tossed with precision. Rifle fire rapid, deadly. His voice rose to rally the men, a beacon in the inferno.

“He led the assault with the fearless determination of a man who knew no retreat,” a judge said at the Medal of Honor ceremony.

One by one, he destroyed the opposing bunkers. He crawled through a hail of shrapnel. When a comrade fell wounded, Robinson dragged him to safety without pause. His leadership was not just bravery—it was salvation.

Recognition

On March 29, 1946, Robinson received the Medal of Honor from President Truman—America’s highest recognition for valor. The citation lauded his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.” His actions inspired his platoon to overcome certain defeat and achieve victory.

Generals, comrades, and the nation spoke of his sacrifice. General Walter M. Robertson noted, “Robinson’s courage under fire was the kind that turns the tide of battle. Men followed him not because they had to, but because they trusted him with their lives.”

Robinson’s story was etched into the annals of WWII heroism alongside other warriors who bore scars invisible to the world.

Legacy & Lessons

James E. Robinson Jr.’s legacy is raw truth carved out in combat’s bloody ledger: courage is not the absence of fear, but will bent to duty. Sacrifice means standing when others fall, carrying more than just a rifle—carrying the weight of lives dependent on every decision.

He knew redemption—the kind scripture promises not from sinlessness but from faith proven in trial. “Greater love hath no man than this,”* he believed, embodying John 15:13 in flesh and blood.

In the wreckage of war, Robinson’s courage shines—as a torch for those who come after. His path reminds us that valor demands more than a burst of adrenaline; it requires a heart anchored in something greater than oneself. A heart willing to bleed and bind the wounds of brotherhood under fire.

His story does not end in medals or speeches, but in the eternal question every warrior faces: What will you do when the line is thin and the cost is life? Robinson answered with sacrifice—and in that answer, found his true victory.