James E. Robinson Jr. Medal of Honor in WWII at Untergriesheim

Nov 06 , 2025

James E. Robinson Jr. Medal of Honor in WWII at Untergriesheim

Bullets ripped through the humid jungle air. Men screamed, shouted, and fell. Amid the chaos, one man charged straight into hell. James E. Robinson Jr. didn’t pause. He led. Dragging his squad forward, dragging them through pain and fire—because to stop meant death. To wait meant defeat. This was no act of reckless bravado. It was a soldier’s code burned into bone and heart.

A Soldier Forged by Faith and Duty

Born in 1918 in Ohio, Robinson grew up under the watchful eyes of hard-working parents—Midwestern grit and quiet faith shaping his character. His was a simple but ironclad belief: duty to God, country, and comrades. A family man, husband, and father, he carried a spiritual compass through the crucible of war. His faith was not abstract but a steady fire. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) wasn’t just a scripture—it was armor.

When Robinson enlisted in the Army, he brought that backbone with him—no searching for glory, only the relentless will to serve. The war had already scaled up. Men like Robinson answered the call not with boast or bluster, but with quiet resolve.

The Battle That Defined Him: March 28, 1945, Near Untergriesheim, Germany

Robinson was part of the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, pushing deep into Nazi-held territory. The air thick with cold March fog and lead, his unit was pinned down by fierce machine-gun fire. The enemy held the high ground, their nests choking off every attempt to advance.

That day, Robinson’s leadership tested beyond measure. When his squad leader was wounded, he stepped up without hesitation. Under a withering hail of bullets, he led three separate assaults on the enemy positions. Alone, he dashed from cover to cover, firing his M1 Garand, throwing grenades, forcing the Nazis to retreat.

At one point, despite being shot in the side, he refused medical aid and continued the attack. For almost two hours, Robinson moved ahead of his men, dismantling enemy defenses that were threatening to slash his battalion apart.

His actions directly led to the capture of critical terrain and the elimination of over 30 enemy soldiers—saving countless American lives and maintaining the momentum of the Allied advance.

Medal of Honor Recognition

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, James E. Robinson Jr. earned the Medal of Honor. His citation reads:

“He repeatedly charged enemy positions under heavy fire, killing hostile soldiers and capturing key points, enabling his company to advance and secure the objective. Despite wounds, he refused evacuation and continued to lead until the enemy was routed.”^[U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients, World War II]

Generals and fellow soldiers alike recognized his selflessness. One comrade called him “the embodiment of courage… a man who put others’ lives above his own, even when it meant certain death.” Robinson’s resolve was not born of desire for medals but out of an unbreakable commitment to stand in the gap for his brothers.

Enduring Legacy: Courage Beyond the Battlefield

Robinson’s story is not just about heroism—it’s about sacrifice stamped in flesh and faith. Men like him remind us that valor is not a moment but a continual choosing to carry burdens that no man should bear alone.

War scars the soul and shreds youth, but Robinson’s life after combat showed a man who wrestled with purpose and redemption. He returned to civilian life carrying invisible wounds but never buried the lessons learned in the blood-soaked mud of Germany.

His legacy whispers this to every veteran and citizen alike: Courage means standing when every fiber screams to fall. Sacrifice means giving your all so others may live. Redemption means finding strength beyond the gunfire—in faith, family, and fraternity.

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

James E. Robinson Jr. bore that love into battle. He left behind a blueprint of what it means to fight—not just the enemy but the darkness within.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, James E. Robinson Jr. Citation 3. The 30th Infantry Division in WWII, Military History Journal, 1995 4. Veteran Oral Histories, Thirty-Third Infantry Division Archives