ROBINSON, ROBERT GUY - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Marine
Aviation Force Place and date: Pittham, Belgium, 14 October 1918. Entered
service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 30 April 1896, New York, N.Y. 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, G/Sgt. Robinson's
plane was attacked by 9 enemy scouts. In the fight which followed, he shot
down 1 of the enemy planes. In a later air raid over Pittham, Belgium,
on 14 October 1918, his plane and 1 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, G/Sgt.
Robinson, after shooting down 1 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.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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