1st Lt. James Edward Robinson Jr. O1181988 MOH KIA

First lieutenant, James Edward Robinson Jr. O1181988 US Army MOH KIA. He was born on July 10, 1918 in Toledo, Ohio. He lived at 1122 South 15th Street Waco Texas. He joined the Army in Waco, Texas in on June 2, 1939, at the age of 20. He served in the 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, on July 1, 1942 he was promoted to Master Sergeant. Robinson attended Officer Candidate School after receiving his commission on May 13, 1943 he served in the 14th Air Depot Group  at Duncan Field Texas. He served in A Battery 861st Field Artillery battalion, C Battery 861st Field Artillery battalion, and Headquarters Battery & Medics 861st Field Artillery.

On April 6, 1945 he was serving as a field artillery forward observer attached to Company A, 253rd Infantry  near Untergriesheim, Germany. After Co. A, lost its commanding officer and most of its key enlisted personnel when 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. 10 German infantrymen in foxholes threatened to stop the assault, but he 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 Lt. Robinson was directly responsible for Co. A’s accomplishing its mission against tremendous odds. He died at the age of 26. He was awarded the Medal of Honor MOH, Purple Heart Medal (PHM), Bronze Star Medal (BSM).