Dec 30 , 2025
James E. Robinson Jr., Medal of Honor Recipient at Leyte Island
James E. Robinson Jr. crawled through bullets, smoke choking the air, every muscle screaming. The sharp crack of enemy fire was the soundtrack of that hellish day. No hesitation. No retreat. Just relentless forward motion to save the men pinned down around him.
This was a warrior forged in fire.
Background & Faith
Born to humble roots in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Robinson carried the work ethic of the heartland into battle. A farm boy accustomed to hard labor and the long haul, he had the steady hands and steady soul the Army so desperately needed.
Before the war, James found strength not just in discipline but in faith. Raised as a devout Methodist, he clung to scripture like a lifeline amidst chaos. “Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee..." (Isaiah 41:10).
That promise settled deep in his core. He fought not just for country, but for a higher purpose. To him, courage was more than boldness; it was a sacred duty.
The Battle That Defined Him
October 29, 1944—Philippines, Leyte Island—a crucible of violence and grit. Robinson was a Private First Class in Company M, 376th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division. His squad was trapped near the Palanas River, enemy entrenched in fortified positions.
The Japanese defenders had the advantage, their machine guns cutting down any who dared advance.
When his platoon were pinned down, wounded men crying out, Robinson didn’t wait for orders. Under blistering fire, he jumped into action—his platoon’s lifeline.
One by one, he led successive attacks on three enemy machine gun nests.
Bullets plowed through foliage. Explosions turned earth to dust and blood. But Robinson pushed forward, grenades in hand, tearing into the enemy lines with fearless resolve.
He came back twice to pull wounded comrades to safety, dragging them under relentless fire. His grit ignited the stalled assault, turning defense into victory.
A Private leading the charge, turning hopeless defense into unstoppable offense.
Recognition
For that day alone, James E. Robinson Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest tribute to valor. President Harry S. Truman signed the citation on September 27, 1945. The official wording captured it bluntly:
"He single-handedly assaulted the enemy’s positions, cleared the way for his platoon, and saved many lives by his gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty."¹
His comrades remember him not just as a soldier, but as a beacon.
Sgt. First Class William B. Harrell, also a Medal of Honor recipient from Leyte, later said of men like Robinson, "They are the steel heart of the infantry, the kind of men who settle the fury of war with grit and God on their side."²
No fanfare in the foxholes, just pure, unyielding bravery.
Legacy & Lessons
James E. Robinson Jr.’s story is carved into the bedrock of combat sacrifice. He shows us what it means to front the darkest hour and choose purpose over fear.
His actions remind every soldier that courage isn’t the absence of doubt, but the will to move forward in spite of it. To carry fallen brothers out, to press the fight, to hold the line with no quarter.
In a world quick to forget the cost of freedom, his legacy declares:
Bravery is service. Sacrifice is love. Faith carries us through the storm.
He never sought glory, only to lead. To save others. To do the hard, necessary thing when most would falter.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
That is the unbreakable bond James Robinson lived and died for.
Sources
1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. Harrell, William B., Combat Medal of Honor Recipients, US Army Archives
Related Posts
Alfred B. Hilton, Fort Wagner Flagbearer and Medal of Honor Recipient
Alfred B. Hilton Civil War Flag Bearer and Medal of Honor Recipient
Alfred B. Hilton, Medal of Honor Recipient at Fort Wagner