James E. Robinson Jr. Medal of Honor Hero of Hurtgen Forest

Dec 03 , 2025

James E. Robinson Jr. Medal of Honor Hero of Hurtgen Forest

James E. Robinson Jr. stood alone amidst a hail of bullets, a burning German strongpoint just feet away. His men were pinned down, exposed, caught in the teeth of enemy fire. His heart hammered, not from fear—but from the firm conviction that failure wasn’t an option. This was a battlefield moment that would carve his name into history—a young sergeant leading his platoon through hell to victory.

Background & Faith

Born in 1918 in Columbus, Ohio, Robinson was the son of a working-class family, raised in quiet dignity. The grit of the heartland shaped him—hard work, unwavering loyalty, and a deeply rooted faith in God. More than politics or rank, James lived by a code written in scripture and sweat.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1) echoed in his mind through every night-shelled foxhole and shattered street of Europe.

Robinson enlisted in the U.S. Army and trained as a platoon sergeant in the 422nd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division. He went into battle carrying not only his weapons and gear but an unshakeable belief that the fight was just—that freedom demanded blood and sacrifice.

The Battle That Defined Him

The winter of 1944 was unforgiving. The Battle of Hürtgen Forest stretched the souls of the 106th Division thin—crushing cold, thick mud, and deadly German defenses. On November 17, Sergeant Robinson’s platoon faced a vicious enemy strongpoint near the town of Schevenhütte. German machine guns cut down the frontline soldiers, grinding the assault to a halt.

Robinson refused defeat.

With no orders left and the air thick with smoke, he grabbed a light machine gun. Leading from the front, he charged forward through a barrage of fire. One by one, he neutralized enemy positions—his every step blazing courage into his men.

When his platoon was cut off and surrounded, Robinson organized a defense. He surged forward repeatedly, carrying wounded soldiers back to safety. His arms burned from hefting comrades under fire. When the enemy counterattacked, he stood firm, rallying men with a shouted prayer and clenched jaw.

Recognition

For this extraordinary valor, James E. Robinson Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor. The citation reads that his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty... resulted in the successful advance and the saving of many lives.”

Generals and fellow soldiers alike noted his relentless spirit.

“Robinson was the embodiment of the warrior’s heart. He wouldn’t let us fall,” said a platoon member in later interviews.

Even President Harry S. Truman recognized the raw courage and humility of this Ohioan soldier when he presented the Medal of Honor in 1945.

Legacy & Lessons

Robinson’s story refuses to fade into a forgotten footnote. His conduct exemplifies what sacrifice looks like when grit meets grace. Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the refusal to let fear dictate your actions. It’s loving your brothers enough to face death head-on and dragging them out of hell.

He walked away from the war deeply scarred, but alive. His faith quietly carried him beyond trauma, grounded in a hope that war’s violence is not the final word.

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

As veterans, we carry Robinson’s torch: a call to bravery, responsibility, and redemption. To the civilian world, his story is a hard truth about freedom’s cost—etched in blood and bravery.

To remember James E. Robinson Jr. is to honor the sacred bond forged in combat. It’s a charge to live with the same courage. To fight on—not just in battle, but in every walk where fear tempts surrender.

His scars tell us: real victory doesn’t come without pain. But through that pain, we are remade—stronger, free, and forever bound by a soldier’s promise.