James E. Robinson Jr.'s Medal of Honor action on New Georgia

Nov 04 , 2025

James E. Robinson Jr.'s Medal of Honor action on New Georgia

James E. Robinson Jr. stood knee-deep in mud, bullets slicing through the humid air over New Georgia Island in July 1943. Every inch forward was soaked in blood and fire. Yet when his men faltered under a withering barrage, Robinson didn’t hesitate. He surged ahead alone, dragging the unit forward with unyielding grit. His voice cracked with orders, his rifle jammed and then cleared in a heartbeat—always moving, always leading.

Background & Faith

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1918, Robinson was raised on a tough, no-nonsense Midwestern grit. His family’s faith was the steady anchor in a restless world. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” wasn’t just Sunday school. It was the backbone of his code.

Hard work, quiet humility, and a fierce loyalty to brotherhood shaped him. Before the war, Robinson had worked as a mechanic—hands-on, problem-solving, accustomed to pressure. When the war pulled him in, that same mindset would save lives.

He carried a well-worn Bible in his pocket, dog-eared and soft. In the chaos, he turned often to Psalm 23:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

The Battle That Defined Him

The Solomon Islands campaign had descended into a brutal slog. Dense jungle, hot sun, and the omnipresent threat of snipers and machine guns. On July 29, 1943, Robinson was with the 161st Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division, tasked with breaking a strong Japanese defensive line near Munda Point.

Robinson’s company was pinned down by relentless machine gun fire. The line wavered. His commanding officer had fallen. Cold steel necessity snapped through his mind: someone had to act.

He grabbed a trench knife, leapt out of the foxhole, and charged into enemy fire. One position after another—he smashed machine guns, neutralized snipers, and rallied scattered troops. Under withering fire, he used a captured Japanese light machine gun against its former owners.

By the time the ground had been won, Robinson had single-handedly carried his unit’s advance. His actions saved countless lives by breaking the enemy’s hold on the terrain.

Recognition

For his valor, James E. Robinson Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 9, 1943. General Walter Krueger, commanding the Sixth Army, praised Robinson’s “extraordinary bravery and determination.”

The citation reads:

“With complete disregard for his own safety, he repeatedly charged the enemy under heavy fire, inspiring his men to victory.”

His citation is carved into the granite of history—a testament to guts, heart, and the instinct to lead when others fall back. Robinson’s Medal of Honor remains one of the very few awarded for heroic action in the deadly, close-quarters jungle warfare of the Pacific.

Legacy & Lessons

Robinson’s story is not just one of battlefield glory. It is a lesson in purpose under fire, in selfless sacrifice. He embodied the warrior’s truth: courage is not absence of fear, but action despite it.

Faith and hope were never distant hosts on that battlefield. They were the quiet forces that kept him upright amid carnage. His life reminds us that the fiercest weapon a soldier wields might just be his conviction.

Robinson returned from war humble, resolved never to boast. “I was just doing my duty," he once said. But his wounds—both seen and unseen—etched a lifelong reminder that freedom demands cost.

His legacy echoes across generations of veterans: grit, leadership, and a faith tempered in fire.

Hold tight to the words of Isaiah 40:31:

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.”

James E. Robinson Jr.’s strength wasn’t just muscle or steel. It was the strength of heart—a warrior’s heart bathed in sacrifice, scarred, and redeemed. That kind of strength never dies.