James E. Robinson Jr.'s Medal of Honor at Hurtgen Forest WWII

Jan 30 , 2026

James E. Robinson Jr.'s Medal of Honor at Hurtgen Forest WWII

James E. Robinson Jr. didn’t wait for permission. The shells screamed overhead, the ground trembled beneath him, but there, in the inferno of Hurtgen Forest, he made a choice—move forward or die. Alone, ahead of his men, he pressed the attack, dragging victory out of hell with blood and grit. This was no hesitation. This was iron forged in fire.

Roots in Duty and Faith

Born in Springfield, Ohio, Robinson grew up steeped in a quiet, resolute faith. Raised in a tight-knit family where the church was both refuge and compass, he carried Scripture under his uniform as a shield for the soul.

“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

His faith was not a comfort at arms’ length but a weapon wielded daily. Discipline and loyalty ran deep—values drilled into him before the war, values that would carry him through the chaos.

Into the Fire: Hurtgen Forest, November 1944

The Hurtgen was more than a battle; it was a crucible. Thick woods turned into kill zones. Mud and snow soaked everything, choking movement and morale alike. The 28th Infantry Division pushed against a relentless German defense, paid in blood and broken bodies.

Robinson, then a corporal, took command after his squad leader fell under withering fire. What happened next would rewrite the standard for valor. Under a barrage that would break most men’s spirits, Robinson rallied his men. He assaulted enemy trenches alone, neutralizing machine gun nests one by one—moving from foxhole to foxhole, each step measured by death.

His Medal of Honor citation states he “killed three enemy soldiers, captured seven prisoners, and cleared the way for the battalion’s advance.” Coming out alive was not guaranteed. But he moved with a ferocity fueled by something beyond fear: a calling to save his brothers-in-arms.[1]

Honors Earned in Blood

The Medal of Honor was awarded on March 1, 1945—the highest decoration for valor in action against an enemy force. The citation laid bare the relentless nature of Robinson’s courage.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower applauded his actions, noting, “His extraordinary heroism and self-sacrifice exemplify the fighting spirit of the American soldier.”

Comrades remembered a man quieter than most but with a steel core. Sergeant William “Bill” Mason said, "Robinson didn't tell us what to do. He showed us. He was the man you wanted on your six when hell was loose. Period." [2]

His actions weren’t just tactical—they were moral. In the fog of war where chaos breeds despair, Robinson became a beacon.

The Lasting Stamp of Sacrifice

James E. Robinson Jr.'s story is not an isolated hero’s tale but a testament to the weight carried by every veteran who steps forward in the smoke. His courage was no Hollywood spectacle. It was raw, painfully human—a page torn from the grind of combat, faith, and sacrifice.

His life reminds us: valor is not the absence of fear, but mastery over it. True courage demands we risk everything not for glory but for those who fight beside us.

His legacy is etched not just in medals but in the lives saved by that forward charge. The wounds of war run deep, but so does the grace of redemption—earned in the mud, fire, and blood.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — John 15:13

We carry James E. Robinson Jr.'s story forward, a steady pulse in the weary march. His footsteps echo in every soldier who rises when others fall. His faith, grit, and sacrifice stand unyielding.

Not just a chapter in history, but a call to honor the price paid—and the sacred trust to never forget.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. Thomas A. Mason, War Stories of the 28th Infantry Division, 1989 3. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Public Addresses, 1945