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Area man killed serving in Afghanistan was hard-working, dedicated student

Spc. James C. Robinson

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By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer Washington Bureau Updated 8:59 AM Wednesday, September 1, 2010

MONROE — The death of 27-year-old U.S. Army Spc. James C. Robinson in Afghanistan is like losing a family member, said the father of a former classmate.

Robert Bretland of Monroe said his son, Rob, played soccer with Robinson at the old Lemon-Monroe High School.

“It’s pretty tough right now to talk about him. He was just a good kid. He had a good family. He was like another kid to us,” said Bretland, fighting back his emotions.

Robinson, of Lebanon, died Saturday, Aug. 28, in the Bermal district in Paktika province, Afghanistan, when his unit was hit with indirect fire, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Monday.

Robinson graduated in 2001 from Monroe, where he was a member of the school’s Science Club and soccer team.

Tom Gannon, who served as Monroe’s soccer coach from 2000-08, said he coached Robinson during his senior year.

Robinson, known as “Jimmy,” was a defensive player who either played stopper, fullback or sweeper, said Gannon, describing Robinson as a “thin, likeable kid” who was one of five seniors on the team that year.

“Like all my players, he was a hard worker and never gave me any problems whatsoever. Whatever exercise or drills that I instituted for that particular practice, I never had any problems from him. I can’t say that about all my players,” Gannon said. “I’m sure his dedication to soccer carried over to his military (career.) It’s just tough. You just hate to see anybody have to give their life up, but he did it for our freedom and that’s probably the greatest honor that you can probably achieve in this country anyway.”

Gannon said he believes the school district plans to present Robinson’s old blue and gold Hornets No. 7 soccer jersey to his parents during a ceremony honoring him at the Friday, Sept. 3, football game vs. Ross High School.

Robinson was an infantryman assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Monroe Local Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli said she got to know Robinson while serving as principal of Middletown schools’ Central Academy.

“His parents both volunteered a lot at the school. He was a good kid, he was a good student, and he was just a good young man. ... He was just a very positive, upbeat kind of student,” she said.

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