James W . Robinson , Jr . James William " Jim " Robinson , Jr . ( August 30 , 1940 – April 11 , 1966 ) was an American soldier and a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor . Robinson earned the award while serving with the U . S . Army in Vietnam . He was a Sergeant ( E - 5 ) in the infantry when he was killed under heroic circumstances on April 11 , 1966 , at age 25 . Biography . Born in 1940 in Hinsdale , Illinois , a Chicago suburb , Robinson graduated from Morton High School in 1958 and enlisted in the U . S . Marines , serving primarily in Okinawa . After his service ended in 1961 , Robinson worked in the private sector in northern Virginia , then re - enlisted in 1964 , this time in the U . S . Army . Assigned to duty in Panama , Robinson relentlessly requested a transfer to Southeast Asia , which was finally granted in 1965 . Robinson is listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on panel 06E , row 103 , and is buried at the Clarendon Hills Cemetery in Darien , Illinois . He was the first Virginia resident to receive the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War . Robinson Secondary School , opened in 1971 in Northern Virginia ' s Fairfax County , is named in his honor , as is Robinson Elementary School in Lyons , Illinois . Sgt . Robinson ' s Medal of Honor was donated to Robinson Secondary School by his parents . The Medal is displayed in the school ' s main hall and has served as an inspiration to the school ' s student population for many years . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Sergeant , U . S . Army , Company C , 2d Battalion , 16th Infantry , 1st Infantry Division . Place and date : Republic of Vietnam , April 11 , 1966 . Entered service at : Chicago , Ill . Born : August 30 , 1940 , Hinsdale , Ill . 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 machine gun 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 machine gun 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 .