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<em>William Leslie Robinson</em> was born 7 April 1914, in Detroit, Michigan, the fourth of six children of Hanson and Elizabeth Clark Robinson. His father was a pioneer in the developing automobile business with the Dodge Brothers and Colonel Studebaker. In 1916 the Robinson family moved to Wayne, Pennsylvania, where Robby grew up and attended Radnor High School. He participated in several sports and also was a sports reporter for the Main Line Times newspaper.</p>
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Upon graduation from high school, Robby was faced with a major decision— should he go into the automobile business, or pursue a military career? He received much advice from family and friends closely associated with the Navy and Naval Academy. His elder cousin, Rear Admiral Charles P. Hughes, exerted friendly naval pressure, but was unable to deter a young man whose mind was set on an Army career. The choice was a difficult one for a young man who wanted to display his own independence. He was helped in his decision while visiting relatives near Baltimore when receiving croquet instructions from Douglas MacArthur, later General of the Army MacArthur. General MacArthur taught him the fine points of the game and they became close friends as a result of several challenging games. Robby received an appointment to West Point from Congressman R.L. Montgomery of Radnor, Pennsylvania. Robby attended the Braden Preparatory School at Cornwall-on-the-Hudson. Since West Point had been his first dream, a few games of strategically played croquet paved the way for his final decision.</p>
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Upon graduation from West Point in 1937, Robby married Elizabeth Lombard of Washington, D.C., and served his first two years as a company officer in the 29th Infantry at Fort Benning. Then he was transferred to Fort McKinley, Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, where he and Betty arrived on 14 February 1940, and Robby assumed command of a company of the 45th Infantry of the Philippine Scouts. He was promoted to captain on 9 September 1940.</p>
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In May of 1941, Betty and the other US Army wives were returned to the United States.</p>
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On 4 August 1941, Robby was appointed assistant intelligence officer of the 45th Infantry, and was placed on detached service at Cebu City as an instructor, Philippine Army, where he served from 28 August to 4 November 1941. On 6 November Robby was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 of the Headquarters Visayan-Mindanao Force by Major General William F. Sharp, Commander. Robby was promoted to major, AUS on 19 December 1941, and to lieutenant colonel, AUS on 23 March 1943.</p>
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He held the position of Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 on General Sharp’s staff until General Wainwright was obliged to surrender all American and Philippine troops in the Philippine Islands after the fall of Corregidor. During the Japanese attack on Mindanao shortly before General Sharp’s surrender of the Visayan-Mindanao Forces, Robby was awarded the Silver Star for distinguished gallantry in action against the enemy on Mindanao. He was also awarded the Legion of Merit for his meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services in Luzon, Cebu, and Mindanao from 14 February 1940 to 9 June 1942.</p>
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The following information has been gleaned from official records, letters from Robby and fellow prisoners who escaped, and from stories told to members of the Robinson family.</p>
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Shortly after the surrender, Robby and some of his men were sent to the Davao Penal Colony on Mindanao where his wardrobe trunk, footlocker and bedding roll were all waiting for him. His Philippine orderly was there also. While at Davao, Robby convinced his captor that it was customary for West Pointers to have a reunion dinner on or about 17 March every year. The Japanese commander understood the importance of the tradition and provided transportation to go into town for supplies. It is also told that Robby said his men would like to see a Western thriller movie. After that, his captors and men had chocolate ice cream sodas. These are firsthand reports from fellow prisoners of war. </p>
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In June 1944 Robby and other healthy prisoners of war were sent to Luzon and were incarcerated in Bilibid Prison until 13 December 1944. This time his personal belongings did not accompany him. About 15 December, Robby and other prisoners of war were put aboard the Oryoku Maru for Japan. The ship was sunk by US submarines 200 yards from shore. About 700 who swam to the beach were recaptured, and Robby was among the survivors; 501 perished in the hold of the ship.</p>
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The captured men were then moved to San Fernando Prison on Luzon. Robby and the other healthy men were put aboard the Enoura Maru and survived the bombing of that ship in the harbor of Takao, Formosa, 9 January 1945. On 12 January 1945, he and other survivors were put in the hold of the Brazil Maru. According to records, this ship was not attacked, but many prisoners died from wounds, exposure, and disease before the ship reached Japan. Robby was one of those, having died on 21 January 1945.</p>
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Robby’s brother, Hamilton L. Robinson, of Washington, DC also served in the Philippine Islands and the South Pacific during World War II. He met the owner of the largest radio and television station in Mindanao at a Rotary International convention in 1986 who had known Robby during the war and related the story of Robby’s West Point reunion in Davao, Mindanao.</p>
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This obituary was prepared by Robby’s wife, Betty; his sister, Elizabeth L. Robinson; and his brother, Hamilton L. Robinson.</p>
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In 1946, Robby’s wife Betty married Robby’s West Point roommate, Harry Walter “Luke” Elkins.</p>
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