Robert Guy Robinson (April 30, 1894 – October 5, 1974) was a United States Marine Corps first lieutenant who earned the Medal of Honor as a gunnery sergeant during World War I.
Robert G. Robinson | |
|---|---|
 Gunnery Sergeant Robert G. Robinson, USMC | |
| Born | April 30, 1894 Wayne, Michigan, US |
| Died | October 5, 1974 (aged 80) St. Ignace, Michigan, US |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1917–1923 |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
| Unit | 1st Marine Aviation Force |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Biography
editRobert Robinson was born in Wayne, Michigan on April 30, 1894. On May 22, 1917, he enlisted as a private in the Marines and the action in France followed. Although seriously wounded during aerial action over Belgium, he continued to fight and successfully drove off attacking enemy scout planes before two additional bullet wounds forced his collapse. For his heroism and gallantry in this and previous action with enemy planes, while attached to the 1st Marine Aviation Force as an observer, GySgt Robinson received the nation's highest award.
Gunnery Sergeant Robinson, shot 13 times in the abdomen, chest, and legs, and with his left arm virtually blown off at the elbow, helped bring the plane down in Belgian territory. His arm, hanging by a single tendon, was grafted back on by the surgeon-general of the Belgian army. The pilot of his plane, Lt Ralph Talbot of Weymouth, Massachusetts, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for this same action, was killed in a plane crash a few days later.
He was honorably discharged in 1919 as a gunnery sergeant and was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve. His retirement was effected in May 1923 and his promotion to the rank of first lieutenant in September 1936.
Upon retirement, he made his home at St. Ignace, Michigan. Robinson died on October 5, 1974, at his home. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.[1]
Medal of Honor citation
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ROBINSON, Robert Guy
Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
1st Marine Aviation Force
Citation:
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 nine enemy scouts. In the fight which followed, he shot down one of the enemy planes. In a later air raid over Pitthan, 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 ensured, 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 two more bullet wounds, one in the stomach and one in the thigh.
Military awards
editRobinson's military decorations and awards include:
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| 1st row | Medal of Honor | ||||||
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| 2nd row | Purple Heart | Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal | World War I Victory Medal w/one bronze service star to denote credit for the Aviation service clasp | ||||
See also
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References
edit- ^ "Burial Detail: Robinson, Robert G. (Section 46, Grave 390)". ANC Explorer. Arlington National Cemetery. (Official website).
- Borch, Fred L. (2010). For Military Merit – Recipients of the Purple Heart. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-59114-086-3.
- "First Lieutenant Robert G. Robinson, USMCR, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps". Retrieved October 5, 2010.
- "Medal of Honor citation". Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
External links
edit- "Robert Guy Robinson". at ArlingtonCemetery.net. (Unofficial website).