Wheaton in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

James W. Robinson Jr.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 11, 2025

1. James W. Robinson Jr. Marker

Inscription. James W Robinson Jr
Company D, 2nd Battalion
16th Infantry
1st Infantry Division
United States Army
April 11, 1966
Republic of Vietnam

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 11, 1966.

Location. 41° 51.987′ N, 88° 8.353′ W. Marker is in Wheaton, Illinois, in DuPage County. It can be reached from County Farm Road near Manchester Road. The marker is part of the DuPage County Veterans Memorial, which is near the county complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 County Farm Road, Wheaton IL 60187, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Wells H. Blodgett (here, next to this marker); The Medal of Honor (here, next to this marker); James H. Monroe (here, next to this marker); Fred Faulkner Lester (here, next to this marker); Robert J. Miller (here, next to this marker); "For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today" (here, next to this marker); Lester W. Weber (here, next to this marker); DuPage County Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wheaton.

More about this marker. The plaque is one of six at the DuPage County Veterans Memorial dedicated to the county's Medal of Honor recipients.

Overall, 268 Medals of Honor were awarded for the Vietnam War.

Regarding James W. Robinson Jr.. James Robinson was born in 1940 in Hinsdale and was raised a short distance east of there in Lyons, another Chicago suburb. During his senior year at Morton West High School, where he had been a football player, Robinson left school to enlist in the U.S. Marines. After four years of service, much of it in Okinawa, Robinson returned to Illinois, got his high school degree and

Plaques for the county's six Medal of Honor recipients image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 11, 2025

2. Plaques for the county's six Medal of Honor recipients

attended Morton College, a two-year college in Cicero. Soon thereafter, he joined his father in Annandale, Virginia, and, in 1963, with the Vietnam conflict starting to grow, he re-enlisted, this time in the Army. In 1965, Robinson was sent to Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.

On April 11, 1966, Robinson's battalion was ambushed by Viet Cong troops in a dense jungle about 40 miles east of Saigon. Amid the chaos, Robinson found a sniper that was harassing the U.S. troops, grabbed a grenade launcher and took the man out. A little later, he spotted a medic who was shot while treating a wounded soldier. Robinson ran through the gunfire and dragged the men to safety. After evening set on the battle, Robinson identified another wounded comrade and once again ran into enemy fire to retrieve him, this time suffering his own gunshot wounds to his shoulder and leg. After giving aid to his fellow soldier and treating his own wounds, he spotted a machine gun that had been shooting his men. Robinson grabbed two grenades and ran towards the gun. A tracer round hit Robinson's leg and set his clothing on fire.

James W. Robinson Jr. (1940-1966) image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of the United States Army

3. James W. Robinson Jr. (1940-1966)

Robinson ripped off his clothes and continued his charge. As he was shot twice in the chest at close range, Robinson was able to throw the grenades at the trench destroying the enemy position. Robinson then died.

His body was returned to the United States and buried at Clarendon Hills Cemetery in Westmont, not far from where he was born. In 1967, he was awarded the Medal of Honor at a ceremony with his family at the Pentagon.

Elm School in his hometown of Lyons was renamed after Robinson in 1967. In 1971, Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax, Virginia, was named after Robinson, who was the first Virginia resident to receive the Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam.

Also see . . .
1. Lyons Memorial Day ceremony will remember Vietnam veteran. This 2016 article is about a Memorial Day celebration at the elementary school that is named after Robinson in his home town of Lyons, Illinois. (Submitted on November 20, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Medal of Honor Monday: Army Sgt. James W. Robinson Jr. (Submitted on November 20, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. Our Namesake: James W. Robinson Jr.

Paid Advertisement

Robinson Secondary School is in Fairfax, Virginia, about 725 miles east of this memorial.

Excerpt: "Robinson Secondary was named in honor of Sgt. James W. Robinson, Jr., the first Virginia resident to receive the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and heroism in the Vietnam conflict."

(Submitted on November 20, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 124 times since then and 84 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 20, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.