Howard Vernon Robins was born at Winnemucca, Nevada, April 5, 1893. He was raised and received his education there, and left in order to offer his services at the time the Nation called for men. He entered the Marine Corps at Mare Island, California, on July 25, 1917. From this time his war chronology shows his movements as follows: November 15th, arrived at Quantico, Virginia; December 3d, qualified as expert rifleman; December 16th, went to Lewis Machine-Gun School at Utica, New York; January 30th, 1918, made Corporal; February 5th, sailed on the Von Steuben with the First Replacement Battalion; March 17th, made Sergeant. After that he served successively in Companies 119, 120, 134, and was finally assigned to Company “47-M,” 5th Regiment, 2d Division. In the meantime he had received training in mortar and bayonet work in the First Corps School.

On the 31st day of May, 1918, the 2d Division was withdrawn from its reserve position northwest of Paris and sent in all haste to fill a gap in the Allied lines on the Chateau-Thierry-Paris road near Montreuil-aux-Lions. There they stopped the German march on Paris on the morning of the 1st of June. On June 4th the 2d commenced a vigorous counter-offensive, capturing Belleau Wood after a hard fight. Later they took Bouresches, and on July 1st Vaux fell to them. Germany’s best troops had failed to stop the advance. They were relieved on July 10th by the 25th Division.

Of the three brigades in the 2d Division, one (the 4th) was composed of the 5th and 6th Regiments of Marines, and the 6th Machine-Gun Battalion. Sergeant Robins was serving with the 5th Regiment. On the 25th of June, 1918, during the desperate battle, he was twice wounded but refused to leave the line. Late in the afternoon he was leading a platoon when a high-explosive shell struck him. He was killed instantly by the terrific force of the shell. One of the officers of his Company relates the following incident: During the battle a messenger came upon Sergeant Robins cleaning his rifle. “Bob,” said the Sergeant. “I’ve gotten four or five of the d—n Heinies, but that is not enough to avenge our friend Sergeant Fred Taggert’s death. I think I’ll cross this opening and get more of them.” The 2d Division gained everlasting fame in the battle of the Bois de Belleau, but they paid a heavy toll in lives for their victory. Later they took part in the crushing of the Marne salient near Tigny and in the great Meuse-Argonne offensive, but the name of Belleau will always be associated with the number of their division.

Sergeant “Verne” Robins was buried in American Cemetery No. 1764, Grave 204, Section 6, Plot 4, Belleau, Aisne, France. He leaves a father, F. C. Robins, a brother, C. E. Robins, both of Winnemucca, Nevada; and four sisters, Mrs. Lucia R. Cohen, Mrs. Laura Florin, and the Misses Grace and Hazel Robins, all of San Francisco.