After he was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Craig Robinson gets a round of applause from the crowd and Congresswoman Jaime Herrera-Beutler, R-Camas, during a ceremony on Monday afternoon at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis. Robinson, just two days into his service in the U.S. Navy, was flown into Lebanon in 1983 when the U.S. Marine Barracks were bombed, killing 241 soldiers.
U.S. Navy Veteran Craig Robinson gets a hug from a friend after receiving the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal on Monday afternoon during a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis.
U.S. Navy Veteran Craig Robinson meets with Congresswoman Jaime Herrera-Beutler, R-Camas, prior to being awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal in January 2017 during a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis.
Members of the Brothers in Arms and the Patriot Guard Riders stand and hold flags at the entrance to the Veterans Memorial Museum prior to a ceremony for U.S. Navy Veteran Craig Robinson on Monday in Chehalis. Robinson was received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal on Monday.
The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal hangs from the chest of U.S. Navy Veteran Craig Robinson during a ceremony on Monday afternoon at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis.
U.S. Navy Veteran Craig Robinson speaks to the audience after receiving the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal on Monday afternoon at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis.
The meeting area of the Veterans Memorial Museum is packed for a ceremony where U.S. Navy Veteran Craig Robinson received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal on Monday afternoon in Chehalis.
In this photograph provided by the Veterans Memorial Museum, Craig Robinson is seen during his days in the military.
A veteran from Curtis was honored by Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler during a ceremony in January 2017, 33 years after he helped wounded and dying soldiers aboard the USS Iwo Jima.
Just 19 years old and fresh out of Navy boot camp, Craig Robinson was on the helicopter carrier when the U.S. Marine Corps Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, were attacked by terrorists with truck bombs on Oct. 23, 1983.
The attack resulted in the greatest American loss for the American military since the Tet Offensive of 1968 in Vietnam, and also resulted in the deadliest day for the U.S. Marine Corps since the assault on Iwo Jima in 1945.
On his first day, he took care of the dead and dying who were brought onto the aircraft carrier.
“Craig Robinson volunteered to do what he could among the chaos,” executive director of the Veterans Memorial Museum Chip Duncan said. “It was a grim day. There was grim work of putting bodies into body bags and holding the hands of the dying.”
On his second official day in the Navy, he volunteered to go ashore to the site of the bombing, where he helped recover bodies.
“For those of you who have served in the United States Military in peacetime or in war, there are things you have seen that you will never forget,” Duncan said. “I, as a civilian, have never seen such of the horrors of war like some of you and I know that you will never forget and neither will Craig.”
Herrera Beutler presented the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal to Robinson at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis.
Prior to pinning the medal on Robinson, Herrera Beutler said nothing gives her greater awe or humbles her more than an event that recognizes the nation's veterans.
“You were the last face that they saw and you got to be that comfort. … I’m sure there are families that will never know what you did that will be eternally grateful as we are,” she said.
Herrera Beutler said it was her humble honor to present the award to Robinson.
After the medal was pinned onto Robinson, he thanked everyone for attending the ceremony.
“I’m a little overwhelmed at all this,” he said.
He credited his wife, Valerie, for setting the process in motion. Robinson realized he had never received the award from his Veterans Affairs counselor after he went to get help.
“I just recently found out that I even got this, but I give all the credit to my awesome wife because she’s the one that had noticed that I have issues,” he said. “… She noticed that there was certain things that I did and how I acted that there was something else that needed to be looked at.”
Receiving the last award he was meant to be given, Robinson said he always hoped he would get credit for his involvement after the attack.
“I’m very honored to have this,” he said. “I don’t think I did anything really all that special. They make it sound like I did. … I felt I was just doing my job.”
Robinson said the medal also helps to ensure the attack is not forgotten. He said each year as the date neared Oct. 23 he would get upset because no one ever talked about what happened in Lebanon. Now, he knows it won’t be forgotten, at least by some.
“At least now, with all of your help, at least the people in this room, it’s a start that we can all make sure they will not be forgotten, so thank you,” he said of the 241 servicemen who lost their lives.
Duncan said his hope for the day was two-fold. He wanted Robinson to get recognition for his selfless act, and he also wanted to make sure the bombing would not be forgotten.
“Please let us never forget the Beirut bombing. May it never escape our memory ever again,” he said. “It happened 33 years ago, there were men that gave their lives in that and there are men like Craig who stood up and said I will volunteer to do what I can to do the best in a bad situation. That is literally the definition of our men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.”
