James E. Robinson Jr. Medal of Honor Hero in WWII Haaren Battle

Dec 06 , 2025

James E. Robinson Jr. Medal of Honor Hero in WWII Haaren Battle

James E. Robinson Jr. stood in a crater blasted open by artillery, razor-wire snapping in the wind. Bullets sliced the air like death’s own whisper. His squad pinned down, the German positions loomed like living nightmares. And yet, he moved forward—alone, relentless—the roar of hell urging him on. This was a man who carried the burden of those who could not move.

Born for Battle and Brotherhood

James E. Robinson Jr. came from a modest Midwest town, born in 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri. Raised in the hard, honest shadow of the Great Depression, he learned early that survival hinged on grit, faith, and sacrifice. A devout Christian, Robinson’s grounding wasn’t just in prayer—it was in living the commandments he believed in.

Before the war, he worked as a barber—a steady hand, a calm eye. But when the world shattered in 1941, so did his simple life. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, joining the 2nd Battalion, 188th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. Underneath his uniform beat the heart of a soldier who saw battle as a test of faith and brotherhood.

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

His creed was simple: protect your brothers. There would be no hesitation. No stepping back.

The Battle That Defined a Hero

October 27, 1944. Near Haaren, Germany, the forest grew dense with death and smoke. Robinson’s unit faced a fortified German position—a nest filled with machine guns, snipers, and iron will. His platoon became trapped under sudden, withering fire. Men fell like trees in a storm.

Robinson’s response was immediate. He dashed out in full view, picking off enemy gunners with calculated fury. When his automatic rifle jammed, he didn’t waver. He ran back, retrieved hand grenades, and lobbed them precisely into enemy foxholes.

His wounds piled up—bullet grazes, shrapnel in the arm, blood mixing with sweat. He ignored it all. With a desperation born from brotherhood, Robinson gathered a handful of men, led a counter-assault under that lethal storm. They took the position, tearing down enemy resistance with savage resolve.

One more hurdle—a second German stronghold confronted them. Alone, Robinson charged again, throwing grenades, silencing nests, dragging wounded back from the brink.

"He was a steel wall," said one comrade, Private First Class William Harris. "You followed him because you knew he wouldn't fail us."

The Medal of Honor: A Soldier’s Testament

For this single day of valor, James E. Robinson Jr. received the Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest tribute to battlefield courage. The citation described his actions as “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.”

His commanding officer wrote,

“Robinson’s fearless leadership saved many lives and was instrumental in breaking enemy lines.”

But Robinson never sought glory. He once remarked in an interview, “It wasn’t about medals. It was about the men beside me. We carried each other through that madness.”

His Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously, as he succumbed to wounds from a later battle in Germany on November 4, 1944. The ultimate sacrifice sealed his legacy—not just as a warrior, but as a brother-in-arms whose spirit carried far beyond his mortal life.

Legacy Etched in Blood and Grace

James E. Robinson Jr.’s story is more than a tale of raw heroism. It’s a living testament to sacrifice—unedited, unapologetic. A reminder that courage is born of selflessness, forged in pain, and tempered by faith.

His story teaches warriors and civilians alike that true bravery isn’t the absence of fear, but the choice to act despite it. That leadership is the armor worn not for show but for those who stand behind you, bloodied but unbroken.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6

Robinson’s scars are carved into the earth, the stories of his sacrifices echo in the quiet moments of every returning veteran. He fought for something greater than a medal or a report—he fought for life, for his brothers, for redemptive hope amid chaos.

Somewhere in the woodlands outside Haaren, the earth still remembers his footsteps.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II” 2. U.S. Army, “188th Infantry Regiment Unit History” 3. Voices of Valor: Oral Histories from the 8th Infantry Division, Veterans History Project 4. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Citation for James E. Robinson Jr.