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| Medal of Honor here Lt. James Robinson served with the 63rd Infantry Division in Germany. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9790/james-e.-robinson http://www.63rdinfdiv.com/pictorialhistorypage73.html |
James E. Robinson, Jr. never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on July 10, 1918 in Ohio. His parents James and Deloris were born in New Hampshire and Australia, respectively. His father worked as a garage proprietor. After moving to Texas he worked as a repair machinist. James had two older sisters. He worked as a commercial artist.
James enlisted in the army in 1937. He served in the Howitzer Company of the 143rd Infantry Regiment. He rose from private to master sergeant by July 1942. He was selected for officer candidate school and became as second lieutenant in May 1943.
He married Vina Elizabeth Crawson. They had one daughter.
He became a first lieutenant and a forward artillery observer in Battery A, 861st Field Artillery Battalion, 63rd Infantry Division. The 63rd ID elements began arriving in France in December 1944. The infantry regiments were spilt up and sent to support different divisions in the 7th Army on the south end of the Allied lines. The 63rd ID began acting as a whole division in February 1945. While fighting the Germans Lt. Robinson was award the Bronze Star and later an Oak Leaf Cluster.
The 63rd cross the Siegfried Line and advanced across Germany through March and April.
In his role as a forward artillery observer, the 130 pound Lt. Robinson would carry a 75 pound radio to call in artillery support as needed. He earned the Medal of Honor when the company he was attached to lost all of their officers and was reduced from nearly 200 men to a mere 23, so he assumed command and motivated the men to continue the attack.
His Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:
Eight hours of desperate fighting over open terrain swept by German machinegun, mortar, and small-arms fire had decimated Company A, robbing it of its commanding officer and most of its key enlisted personnel when 1st Lt. Robinson rallied the 23 remaining uninjured riflemen and a few walking wounded, and, while carrying his heavy radio for communication with American batteries, led them through intense fire in a charge against the objective.
Ten German infantrymen in foxholes threatened to stop the assault, but the gallant leader killed them all at point-blank range with rifle and pistol fire and then pressed on with his men to sweep the area of all resistance.
Soon afterward he was ordered to seize the defended town of Kressbach. He went to each of the 19 exhausted survivors with cheering words, instilling in them courage and fortitude, before leading the little band forward once more.
In the advance he was seriously wounded in the throat by a shell fragment, but, despite great pain and loss of blood, he refused medical attention and continued the attack, directing supporting artillery fire even though he was mortally wounded.
Only after the town had been taken and he could no longer speak did he leave the command he had inspired in victory and walk nearly 2 miles to an aid station where he died from his wound.
By his intrepid leadership 1st Lt. Robinson was directly responsible for Company A's accomplishing its mission against tremendous odds.
Thank you Lt. Robinson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for James.
Last year on this date I profiled Robert Ory, 84th Infantry Division. You can read about Robert here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
His grave is at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. His widow remarried and died in 2009.
Last year on this date I profiled Robert Ory, 84th Infantry Division. You can read about Robert here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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