James W. Robinson Jr.

Despite repeated wounds, he silenced that enemy machine gun.

James William Robinson Jr. was born in Hinsdale, Illinois, in 1940. He served in the Marine Corps from 1958 to 1961 before joining the Army. By his Vietnam service he was a sergeant in Company D, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.

On 11 April 1966, during fierce fighting with a Viet Cong battalion, Robinson moved among his fire team to place men effectively and encourage them under fire. He used a grenade launcher to eliminate a sniper. Seeing a medic and a wounded sergeant exposed ahead, he went out and brought them to cover, then gave first aid. He continued collecting weapons and ammunition from casualties for the men still fighting.

During another rescue he was wounded in the shoulder and leg. After getting the casualty to safety, he saw a machine gun causing further losses. Having exhausted his rifle ammunition, he took two grenades and advanced on it. Another round set his clothing on fire; he tore it away and continued, despite further wounds. His grenades destroyed the position as he fell mortally wounded.

Robinson's conduct saved several men and helped his unit withstand the attack. Secretary of the Army Stanley Resor presented his posthumous Medal of Honor to his family at the Pentagon on 16 July 1967. He was buried in Clarendon Hills Cemetery at Westmont, Illinois. Military facilities and an Army Reserve marksmanship award later carried his name.