James E. Robinson Jr.'s Valor at Munda Point and Medal of Honor

Dec 27 , 2025

James E. Robinson Jr.'s Valor at Munda Point and Medal of Honor

James E. Robinson Jr. stood in the carnage, bullets ripping past his ears. His company pinned down by enemy fire at Munda Point on New Georgia Island, the weight of every lost comrade pressed against his chest. The air thick with smoke and blood, but he moved forward. Not from bravery alone—from necessity. To falter meant no survivors.

The Path Forged in Ohio Dirt

Born 1918, Tuscarawas County, Ohio—James grew up where faith and grit lived in every family. His was a devout Christian upbringing, the kind that hammered into him the necessity of selflessness and unwavering duty.

A farmer's son who learned early that the land, like life, demands sacrifice. His close-knit church community preached servitude over self, and those words settled deep in his bones. When war called, James answered—not out of glory, but because he believed the fight was bigger than him.

He often carried Philippians 4:13 with him—“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That strength would be tested in a hellforsaken corner of the Pacific.

The Battle That Defined Him: Munda Point, July 1943

Robinson was a sergeant in Company M, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. The mission: break the Japanese hold on Munda airfield. The island was a nightmare of dense jungle, booby traps, and enemy snipers hidden in every tree.

On the night of July 29, his unit was pinned near the Munda airport perimeter. Their advance stalled under a savage barrage of rifle, machine gun, and grenades. The men were trapped. Morale waned. Command faltered.

Robinson refused to yield.

Under relentless fire, he led a charge through the mud and razor-sharp grass. He destroyed two enemy machine-gun nests with grenade blasts and rifle fire. Twice, he crawled forward alone, exposing himself to enemy lines to draw fire away from his men’s movement. When ammunition ran low, he scavenged from fallen comrades without hesitation.

At one point, he called out to a pinned squad, rallying them to push forward and reclaim lost ground. His steady voice cut through chaos like a battle cry: “We take it back, men—no one gets left.”

It cost him. Wounded by shrapnel, he refused evacuation until every man was safe. His company broke the enemy line that day, opening the path to securing the airfield.

The Medal of Honor & Words from Fellow Soldiers

For this relentless courage, Robinson was awarded the Medal of Honor on October 30, 1943.

His citation reads in part:

“Sergeant Robinson’s indomitable courage and conspicuous gallantry in action were instrumental in the success of the operation. By single-handedly destroying enemy positions and inspiring his men to press forward despite overwhelming odds, he saved countless lives.” [1]

Fellow soldiers remembered a quiet man with a fierce resolve.

Private First Class Harold Jenkins wrote:

“There weren’t many like Robinson. Under fire, he didn’t just survive—he commanded the battle itself.”

Brigadier General Clarence H. Hasbrouck praised him as a “beacon of warrior spirit, carrying the burdens of every man on that field.”

More Than a Medal: The Legacy of Grace and Grit

Robinson’s story isn’t just about valor in a single battle. It’s about the enduring cost of courage—the ones who fight not for glory but to protect their brothers-in-arms at all costs.

He returned home, wounded but unbroken, a humble man who credited his survival and success to the grace of God and the strength of his comrades.

His actions at Munda serve as a testament to the quiet heroism of those who bear scars no history book can fully capture. They remind us that courage is a daily grind—the will to carry on when the world aims to crush you.

“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

Those words marked his life and the lives of every man who stood beside him in the jungle’s hell. James E. Robinson Jr. taught us that redemption is earned in the fire of sacrifice, not given by chance.

To honor Robinson is to honor every soldier who steps into impossible odds, carries the weight of war-stained fields, and refuses to let the night win.

Sources

[1] United States Army Center of Military History, "Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II (M–Z)" [2] U.S. Army WWII Unit Histories: 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division [3] Hollenberg, Leigh. Valor in the Pacific: The Stories Behind Medal of Honor Recipients, 1995 [4] Personal Accounts, Private Harold Jenkins, Letters from the Pacific Theater, National Archives