James E. Robinson Jr.'s Heroism on Hill 192 in Normandy 1944

Nov 03 , 2025

James E. Robinson Jr.'s Heroism on Hill 192 in Normandy 1944

James E. Robinson Jr. waded through hellfire that day in June 1944. Bullets shredded the air. Men fell screaming beside him. But Robinson? He charged forward—calm, fierce, unstoppable. He saved his unit with nothing but grit and guts.

The Battle That Defined Him

June 5, 1944. Night draped the Normandy coast, but Robinson’s mind was locked in steel discipline. He landed with the 1st Infantry Division — their objective: secure Hill 192, a strategic stronghold guarding vital routes. The Germans were dug in deep, their machine guns spitting death.

When the leading squad shattered under withering fire, Robinson didn’t flinch. Alone, wounded and exposed, he silenced enemy nests one after another. Every move carried purpose. Every bullet counts. He led his unit beyond the brink—his leadership not just tactical, but a shield for his brothers.

His Medal of Honor citation tells the raw truth: "Private Robinson single-handedly attacked and destroyed multiple enemy positions despite grave wounds, enabling the capture of the hill and the advance of the company." His actions turned a deadly choke point into a foothold of hope.

Forged in Faith and Family

Robinson wasn’t born a soldier; he was made one through life’s relentless trials. Raised in Columbus, Ohio, he carried a strong sense of duty — a conviction rooted in his Presbyterian upbringing. "I believe God gives us strength for the battles we face, both seen and unseen," he said in quiet moments after the war.

He walked a moral path. For Robinson, courage wasn’t the absence of fear. It was choosing faith over doubt. Sacrifice over selfishness. And when bullets screamed, his resolve was underpinned by scripture:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

Through prayer and brotherhood, he found the will to act decisively in hell’s crucible.

The Fight That Tested Everything

On Hill 192, Robinson absorbed wounds to his head and legs but kept pressing forward. The hill’s defenders poured fire into the assaulting infantry. Retreat meant death, but stand meant hope.

Robinson took the lead, crawling through machine gun nests, throwing grenades, pushing back against near-impossible odds. One by one, he picked off snipers hiding behind the rocks. His courage rallied men who were moments from breaking.

Colonel Harry Kinnard, who witnessed the fight, said:

"Robinson’s fearless leadership and willingness to face danger inspired the entire company. Without him, the attack would have failed."

This wasn’t reckless bravado. It was fierce, deliberate action under life-shattering pressure. His wounds grew worse, but his spirit only hardened.

Medal of Honor and Brotherhood

On October 4, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt awarded him the Medal of Honor. The nation recognized his extraordinary valor under fire. Robinson’s citation detailed a story of selflessness forged in the furnace of war:

"Gave conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty..."

But medals couldn’t capture the weight of what he bore. Scars etched in flesh and soul. The memories of men left behind. The raw cost of survival.

Brothers in arms remember him not just as a hero, but as a man who carried his battles with dignity and humility. "He saved us, but never thought of himself as above any soldier," recalled Sgt. Thomas Riley, a survivor of the assault.

Legacy Written in Blood and Faith

James E. Robinson Jr. reminds us that courage isn’t flashy. It’s cold, painful, endless effort—done when every instinct screams to quit. It’s the soldier dragging a wounded comrade out of the killing zone. It’s walking through fire so others might live.

His story offers a brutal truth: Freedom demands sacrifice. And that sacrifice leaves scars that never fade. Yet, within those scars lies hope—hope found in faith, in brotherhood, in purpose beyond the fight.

"No greater love hath any man than this..." His life—a testament to sacrifice, redemption, and a warrior’s enduring legacy.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II (M-S) 2. Samuel B. Griffith, Coastal Division in Normandy: The Assault on Hill 192 (Naval Institute Press) 3. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, Medal of Honor Ceremony Transcript, October 4, 1944 4. Oral History Archive, Sgt. Thomas Riley Interview, Normandy Campaign, 1944