Valor Friday: Army sergeant mustered final strength to destroy enemy machine gun, save his men

Thank you for sharing my friend PO1 (Join to see) the heroism of Sgt. James W. Robinson, Jr. and Airman First Class William H. Pitsenbarger on April 11, 1966 in a firefight near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam.
Sergeant James W. Robinson, Jr. was assigned to Company C, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division

Image: Sergeant James W. Robinson, Jr.

Medal of Honor citation
"Rank: Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company C, 2d Battalion
Division: 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Born: 30 August 1940, Hinsdale, Ill.
Departed: Yes
Entered Service At: Chicago, Ill.
Date of Issue: Accredited To:
Place / Date: Republic of Vietnam, 11 April 1966

Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Company C was engaged in fierce combat with a Viet Cong battalion. Despite the heavy fire, Sgt. Robinson moved among the men of his fire team, instructing and inspiring them, and placing them in advantageous positions. Enemy snipers located in nearby trees were inflicting heavy casualties on forward elements of Sgt. Robinson's unit. Upon locating the enemy sniper whose fire was taking the heaviest toll, he took a grenade launcher and eliminated the sniper. Seeing a medic hit while administering aid to a wounded sergeant in front of his position and aware that now the 2 wounded men were at the mercy of the enemy, he charged through a withering hail of fire and dragged his comrades to safety, where he rendered first aid and saved their lives. As the battle continued and casualties mounted, Sgt. Robinson moved about under intense fire to collect from the wounded their weapons and ammunition and redistribute them to able-bodied soldiers. Adding his fire to that of his men, he assisted in eliminating a major enemy threat. Seeing another wounded comrade in front of his position, Sgt. Robinson again defied the enemy's fire to effect a rescue. In so doing he was himself wounded in the shoulder and leg. Despite his painful wounds, he dragged the soldier to shelter and saved his life by administering first aid. While patching his own wounds, he spotted an enemy machinegun which had inflicted a number of casualties on the American force. His rifle ammunition expended, he seized 2 grenades and, in an act of unsurpassed heroism, charged toward the entrenched enemy weapon. Hit again in the leg, this time with a tracer round which set fire to his clothing, Sgt. Robinson ripped the burning clothing from his body and staggered indomitably through the enemy fire, now concentrated solely on him, to within grenade range of the enemy machinegun position. Sustaining 2 additional chest wounds, he marshaled his fleeting physical strength and hurled the 2 grenades, thus destroying the enemy gun position, as he fell dead upon the battlefield. His magnificent display of leadership and bravery saved several lives and inspired his soldiers to defeat the numerically superior enemy force. Sgt. Robinson's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, at the cost of his life, are in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon the 1st Infantry Division and the U.S. Armed Forces."
http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3403/robinson-james-w-jr.php



Text below is the web article.
"Three weeks ago, our Valor Friday column highlighted the heroism of Airman First Class William H. Pitsenbarger, a Pararescue crew member who sacrificed his life on April 11, 1966, to evacuate wounded soldiers from the Army’s First Infantry Division who were bogged down in a firefight near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam.
When Pitsenbarger, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, had the opportunity to evacuate the combat zone, he decided to stay behind with the men, taking up arms to repel attacks while continuing to care for the wounded.
One of those men he remained behind with was Sgt. James W. Robinson, an Illinois native who was also posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism that day.
Army Sgt. James W. Robinson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing himself to save his men and take out an enemy machine gun. (Army)
As soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division engaged in a fierce fight with a Viet Cong battalion, Sgt. Robinson continued to assert control and inspire his men.
Enemy snipers positioned in nearby trees were wreaking havoc on Robinson’s men, inflicting heavy casualties, when the sergeant took it upon himself to locate the sniper doing the most damage and destroy him using a grenade launcher.
Sgt. Robinson then witnessed a medic who was tending to a wounded soldier get hit by enemy fire. Without hesitation, Robinson charged toward the two men through a hailstorm of enemy rounds and
Pitsenbarger took up arms and fought back the Viet Cong for an hour and a half while repeatedly exposing himself to heavy enemy fire to provide medical care.
By: J.D. Simkins
Robinson continued to move along his line of soldiers, taking ammunition from wounded and redistributing it to those still in the fight.
When he noticed another wounded soldier exposed beyond cover, Robinson again abandoned his position to retrieve the man. As he dragged the man to safety, he was hit in the leg and shoulder. Ignoring his own wounds, he provided vital medical aide to the wounded soldier, saving his life.
Finally treating his own wounds, Robinson spotted an enemy machine gun that had been battering the Americans.
Completely out of ammunition, the sergeant grabbed two grenades and charged toward the enemy machine gun nest."
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast SPC Margaret Higgins PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
Coast Guard

Excellent share Tony, thank you.

Fantastic story - thanks Tony.