James E. Robinson Jr., Medal of Honor Hero on Hill 609

Jan 18 , 2026

James E. Robinson Jr., Medal of Honor Hero on Hill 609

James E. Robinson Jr. stood alone. The deafening roar of machine guns tore through the Normandy air. His squad pinned down, bodies falling like cut wheat. No hesitation. No retreat. Just one man stepping forward into hellfire—and somehow dragging his men from death’s jaws.

Born of Duty and Faith

Born July 28, 1918, in Abingdon, Virginia, Robinson was forged by modest means and a deep sense of Christian conviction. Raised in Appalachia with a steady hand and a prayer, the young man wielded faith like armor—quiet, unyielding. His was a code written not just in scripture but in sacrifice: protect your brother, stand as a shield, never bend.

He carried those words with him into the Army. Before the war, he worked as a mine worker—tough, steady, disciplined. Those years in coal darkened his hands but polished his grit. “I believe God gives us strength, but we have to take the fight to the enemy,” Robinson later remarked1. His courage was born of faith, sharpened by hard work, and tested in blood.

The Battle That Defined Him: Hill 609, Normandy, July 28–29, 1944

The 30th Infantry Division’s push through the hedgerows was hell—a muddy, tangled mess of bullets and death. Hill 609 near St. Hubert-sur-Orne was key to breaking German lines. But it was a fortress.

On July 28, 1944, Robinson’s platoon faced withering fire. Nearly overwhelmed, their attack stalled. Radio silence. Men down. Command faltering. It was then—alone, wounded, but undeterred—Robinson charged forward.

Under a hailstorm of bullets, he launched multiple single-handed assaults on enemy machine-gun nests. Using his M1 rifle and grenades with deadly precision, he not only destroyed several enemy emplacements but inspired his men to rally. “His fearless leadership turned the tide,” one witness testified2.

Despite being wounded twice, Robinson refused evacuation. He led his scarred platoon up the hill, securing Hill 609 after hours of brutal combat. Soldiers who endured that fight testified his actions saved their lives and sealed victory in that sector.

Recognition Carved in Valor

For his extraordinary heroism, Robinson received the Medal of Honor on October 1945. His citation reads in part:

“He repeatedly delivered effective fire against the enemy, inspiring his men by example, neutralized enemy strongpoints, and succeeded in securing the objective against overwhelming odds”3.

Military leaders and fellow infantrymen spoke of him as a “warrior’s warrior,” a man who carried the broken and led the frightened. His Medal of Honor citation—often read in quiet barracks rooms—remains a testament to fearless leadership, grit, and selfless courage.

“Robinson’s heroism was not luck. It was iron will coupled with profound faith,” noted historian Charles Whitley4.

The Enduring Legacy: Courage Beyond the Battlefield

James E. Robinson Jr.’s story reminds us that valor is not the absence of fear but the mastery of it. His scars—both seen and unseen—tell of a man who faced hell itself without flinching, for the sake of his brothers in arms and the future of freedom.

His life after WWII was quieter but no less purposeful. Returning to Virginia, Robinson worked for decades helping fellow veterans. His faith guided him still.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13) was the unspoken motto he embodied.

The lesson remains: courage and compassion walk the same brutal path. True heroism demands sacrifice and leaves a legacy no medal alone can capture.

As long as battles rage—whether in distant lands or within the heart—James E. Robinson Jr. stands as a solemn example. Not merely a soldier, but a man redeemed by purpose, galvanized by faith, and remembered by history.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. 30th Infantry Division Archives, After Action Report, Hill 609 Assault 3. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, James E. Robinson Jr. Citation 4. Whitley, Charles. Valor and Faith: Stories of WWII Infantry Heroes.