ROBERT G. ROBINSON (1896-1974)

by James E. Fargo, FSA Scot

ROBERT G. ROBINSON

Robert Guy Robinson was born in Wayne, Michigan on April 30, 1896.

Enlisted as a private in the Marine Corps on May 22, 1917 and was honorably discharged as a gunnery sergeant in 1919 and was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve. He retired in May 1923 and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in September 1936.

Gunnery Sergeant Robinson’s Medal of Honor citation read: "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Gunnery Sergeant Robert Guy Robinson, for extraordinary heroism as observer in the 1st Marine Aviation Force at the front in France. In company with planes from Squadron 218, Royal Air Force, conducting an air raid on 8 October 1918, Gunnery Sergeant Robinson’s plane was attacked by 9 enemy scouts. In the fight which followed, he shot down one of the enemy planes. In a later air raid over Pittham, Belgium, on 14 October 1918, his plane and one other became separated from their formation on account of motor trouble and were attacked by 12 enemy scouts. Acting with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in the fight which ensued, Gunnery Sergeant Robinson, after shooting down one of the enemy planes, was struck by a bullet which carried away most of his elbow. At the same time his gun jammed. While his pilot maneuvered for position, he cleared the jam with one hand and returned to the fight. Although his left arm was useless, he fought off the enemy scouts until he collapsed after receiving 2 more bullet wounds, one in the stomach and one in the thigh."

Upon retirement, Robinson moved to Saint Ignace, Michigan. He died on October 5, 1974 in Saint Ignace, Michigan. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

References:
Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Hall of Valor Project
Multiple Wikipedia searches.