Background
Robert Robinson was born in Wayne on April 30, 1896.
Robert Robinson was born in Wayne on April 30, 1896.
In May 1917, he enlisted with 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. 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.
He was honorably discharged in 1919 as a gunnery sergeant and was appointed a second lieutenant in the 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 Saint Ignace, Michigan. Robinson died on October 5, 1974 at his home.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
Foreign extraordinary heroism as observer in the at the front in France.
Foreign 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 this Nation"s highest award. The pilot of his plane, Lieutenant 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.
