James Milton Robins

James Milton Robins grew up in Mahaska County in the town of Rose Hill. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and achieved the rank of Corporal. CPL Robins was sent to South Vietnam in June 1968 and was assigned to Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in the 1st Marine Division. Two months into his deployment, CPL Robins was killed in action. He died on August 7, 1968 during the Marine’s Operation Mameluke Thrust. The operation took place in the Happy Valley of the Quang Nam Province. Robins sustained a fatal wound to the head during the mission. He was among 269 Americans killed in Mameluke Thrust. The 21-year-old’s body was returned to the United States and buried at the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa.