James E. Robinson Jr. Peoria native and Medal of Honor hero

Nov 30 , 2025

James E. Robinson Jr. Peoria native and Medal of Honor hero

He crouched behind a dying tree, bullets splintering wood around him like shrapnel from hell itself. The stench of smoke, sweat, and blood pressed in. His squad was pinned down, frozen under the storm of German fire. James E. Robinson Jr. was no stranger to chaos. In the midst of that hellscape, he charged forward—leading his men, swallowing fear, becoming the surge that shattered enemy lines.

A Boy from Peoria, Bound by Honor

Born into the heartland of Peoria, Illinois, Robinson was raised in a world stitched by faith and hard hands. His family—industrial workers and quiet believers—etched into him a code older than any war: stand firm, protect those weaker, serve higher causes than self.

He carried Scripture like a balm to wounds no bullet could touch. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid,” solved many a fearful night. This wasn’t just religion. It was his armor.

Recruited in 1942, Robinson brought that same grit into the 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. Sharp eyes, sharper instincts. Quiet, yet fierce. A farmer’s son born for dirt and duty.

The Battle That Forged a Hero

October 30, 1944. Near Haaren, Germany—rock-hard fortress of enemy resistance. The 30th Division faced a choke point soaked in blood and hellfire. Robinson’s platoon was stalled by a hailstorm of machine-gun fire, enemy snipers weaving death into every breath.

The objective was clear: break the wall or die trying.

Robinson didn’t hesitate. Alone, he stalked through a belt of dense woods under relentless enemy fire. Rifle in one hand, grenades in the other. He charged two machine-gun nests, neutralizing them in brutal hand-to-hand combat. His actions—calculated, ruthless, necessary—paved the way for his unit’s advance.

More bullets tore through the night as he took point again. When a minefield threatened to strangle movement, Robinson coordinated a daring defusing detail under fire. Bloodied but unyielding, he pressed forward until the line cracked. Victory’s spark ignited from his fierce resolve.

Medals of Valor and Voices that Echo

For these feats, Robinson was awarded the Medal of Honor on April 7, 1945. The citation reads:

“Sergeant Robinson single-handedly destroyed two enemy machine gun positions… His indomitable courage and resourcefulness inspired his comrades to victory...”

General Omar Bradley called him “a soldier's soldier,” a man who “embodied the finest traditions of American infantrymen.” Fellow troops remembered him as “a quiet force, the calm in the storm… the man we followed into hell and back.”

His Medal of Honor wasn’t just metal. It was a testament to sacrifice—lives saved, battles won, terror faced and survived.

Legacy Carved in Blood and Scripture

James E. Robinson Jr.’s story is not about glory. It’s about what remains when the smoke clears—scarred bodies, haunted souls, and the unyielding call to serve something beyond self.

He taught warriors and civilians alike the brutal truth: courage is born in the crucible of fear, leadership is forged in selfless action, and faith walks hand in hand with sacrifice.

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

Robinson laid down more than his life; he handed down a legacy of what it means to fight not for fame, but for the brother beside you—knowing some fights never truly end.

His scars live in stories passed from one generation to the next—a bloodline of valor and redemption. This warrior’s heart still beats in every veteran who shoulders their scars with silent grace. Because men like Robinson remind us—freedom is bitter, heavy, and paid for in full by the bravest among us.

And in that sacrifice, redemption lives.