"He was a field artillery forward observer
attached to Company A, 253d Infantry, 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 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."
From 1st Lt. Robinson's Medal of Honor citation, awarded December 11, 1945
May you be at peace,
Brian
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