Division Artillery- Page 2
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Place and Date: Near Untergriesheim, Germany, 6 April 1945
Entered service at: Waco, Texas
Birthplace: Toledo, Ohio
CITATION: He was a field artillery forward observer attached to
Company A, 253rd Infantry, near Untergriesheim, Germany on 6 April
1945. Eight hours of desperate fighting over open terrain swept by
German machine gun fire, mortar, and small arms fire had decimated
Company A, robbing it of its commanding officer and most of its key
enlisted personnel, when Lieutenant Robinson rallied the 23 remaining
uninjured riflemen and a few walking wounded and while carrying his
heavy radio for communication with artillery batteries, led them through
intense fire in a charge against the objective. Ten German infantry men
in fox holes 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 fortitute, 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 to victory and walked nearly 2 miles to an aid station, where
he died of his wound. By his intrepid leadership, Lieuenant Robinson
was directly responsible for Company A's accomplishing its mission
against tremendous odds.
(Webmaster Note: Several military structures have been named in
honor of Lt Robinson. They are Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart
Germany, Robinson Hall at the Los Alamitos, CA reserve center and a
barracks building at Fort Sill, OK.)
Entered service at: Waco, Texas
Birthplace: Toledo, Ohio
CITATION: He was a field artillery forward observer attached to
Company A, 253rd Infantry, near Untergriesheim, Germany on 6 April
1945. Eight hours of desperate fighting over open terrain swept by
German machine gun fire, mortar, and small arms fire had decimated
Company A, robbing it of its commanding officer and most of its key
enlisted personnel, when Lieutenant Robinson rallied the 23 remaining
uninjured riflemen and a few walking wounded and while carrying his
heavy radio for communication with artillery batteries, led them through
intense fire in a charge against the objective. Ten German infantry men
in fox holes 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 fortitute, 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 to victory and walked nearly 2 miles to an aid station, where
he died of his wound. By his intrepid leadership, Lieuenant Robinson
was directly responsible for Company A's accomplishing its mission
against tremendous odds.
(Webmaster Note: Several military structures have been named in
honor of Lt Robinson. They are Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart
Germany, Robinson Hall at the Los Alamitos, CA reserve center and a
barracks building at Fort Sill, OK.)
The Medal of Honor is the highest honor the United States can bestow
on members of its armed forces. It is only presented by the President
and is awarded in the name of the Congress of the United States. It is
awarded " For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life,
above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual conflict with
an opposing armed force."
Medal of Honor Recipient, 1/lt James E. Robinson Jr.
Battery A, 861st Field Artillery Battalion, 63rd Infantry Division
on members of its armed forces. It is only presented by the President
and is awarded in the name of the Congress of the United States. It is
awarded " For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life,
above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual conflict with
an opposing armed force."
Medal of Honor Recipient, 1/lt James E. Robinson Jr.
Battery A, 861st Field Artillery Battalion, 63rd Infantry Division
Medal of Honor Recipient
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