James E. Robinson Jr., Medal of Honor recipient at Point 616 in Italy

Feb 13 , 2026

James E. Robinson Jr., Medal of Honor recipient at Point 616 in Italy

James E. Robinson Jr. stood alone on that shattered ridge, bullets ripping the air as his unit faltered behind him. The enemy was dug in, their machine guns barking death. Yet, he didn’t hesitate. Charging forward under relentless fire, Robinson became the jagged edge of American steel — dragging his men, bleeding and fighting, through hell to hold their ground.

Roots of a Warrior

Born in 1918 in Virginia, James E. Robinson Jr. was no stranger to hard work or faith. Raised in a modest household shaped by discipline and quiet resolve, he carried the weight of duty like a cross — not as a burden, but a calling. His formative years instilled a sense of responsibility, brotherhood, and an unyielding belief that courage was born in humility, layered in sacrifice.

The Good Book echoed in his heart:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

Robinson’s faith wasn’t mere comfort; it was a fortress. It grounded him through the grime and gore of combat and the loneliness shadows the battlefield.

The Battle That Defined Him

February 25, 1944. Italy’s cold February wind bit through the exhaled breath of the men of the 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. They faced the impregnable Point 616, a German fortress overlooking the Garigliano River. The enemy was entrenched, their fields of fire a death trap. Progress stalled. Men faltered. Morale sank.

Then, Robinson stepped forward.

Under withering machine gun, mortar, and rifle fire, he led three successive assaults against the enemy lines. Countless times, he was wounded — yet he refused to fall back. Pulling his men up the slope, rallying their spirit, closing with the enemy in brutal close quarters.

Each step forward was an act of defying death. Each grim face of exhaustion turned into an ember of defiance.

His citation recounts:

"Sergeant Robinson repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire and inspired his platoon with his dauntless courage. Despite wounds, he remained at the front, personally leading the assaults that secured the objective.”

The hill was taken. His platoon was saved. His heroism etched in the earth beneath those boots.

Recognition and Brotherhood

For this relentless valor, Robinson was awarded the Medal of Honor. President Franklin D. Roosevelt pinned it on him in October 1944 — an acknowledgment of grit and grace under fire.

The official citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Sergeant Robinson’s fearless leadership and boldness led to the capture of a heavily fortified enemy position.”

Comrades remember him as a leader who didn’t give orders from behind cover but charged into the cyclone of war. Sergeant Paul Bernhardt, one of Robinson’s men, later said:

“We followed him because he was one of us — weathered, relentless, and unbreakable.”

Robinson never saw the Medal as a personal trophy. It was a symbol for every man who fought, bled, and died that day.

Legacy of Blood and Faith

James E. Robinson Jr.’s story is carved in sacrifice’s script — a reminder that heroes are forged in the crucible of relentless pain and unwavering brotherhood. His battlefield scars tell a story not of glory, but of responsibility: the duty to lead when fear threatens to paralyze, the courage to stand wounded yet unyielding.

He lived out a warrior’s creed married to faith — fighting not for fame, but for the man beside him. His life was a testament that victory is often a solitary ascent, crowned by the cries of those who refuse to quit.

In a world that often forgets the true cost of courage, his legacy demands we remember.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

James E. Robinson Jr. vanished from the records after the war but never from the hearts of those who lived because he ran through fire for them. His sacrifice refuses to be silent. It calls out — raw, honest, eternal.

This is the price of valor. This is the mercy of men who carry scars so others might live free.

Sources

1. United States Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. “Medal of Honor: James E. Robinson Jr.”, Congressional Medal of Honor Society 3. Blair, Clay. The Forgotten War: America in Korea, 1950-1953 (for unit context of 36th Infantry Division in Italy) 4. Bernhardt, Paul. “Personal Interview,” Veteran’s Oral Histories Archive