Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Medal of Honor

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Field Artillery)

    Batallion:

    1st Battalion

    Regiment:

    253d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    63d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    April 6, 1945

    War Department, General Orders No. 117 (December 11, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) James E. Robinson, Jr., United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty. First Lieutenant Robinson was a field artillery forward observer attached to Company A, 1st Battalion, 253d Infantry Division, 63d Infantry Division, near Untergriesheim, Germany, on 6 April 1945. 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 First Lieutenant 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 two miles to an aid station where he died from his wound. By his intrepid leadership First Lieutenant Robinson was directly responsible for Company A’s accomplishing its mission against tremendous odds.