He also served in 1929 as officer in charge of the Marine detachment which built President Herbert Hoover's Rapidan Camp mountain retreat near Criglersville, Virginia.

Robinson twice earned the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" during World War II — the first for outstanding service in July and August 1944, as chief of staff of the 3d Marine Division during the planning and execution of the recapture of Guam; and the second for outstanding service from October 1944 to March 1945, as chief of staff of the 5th Marine Division during the preparation and combat phases of the Iwo Jima campaign.

After the Iwo Jima campaign, Robinson was made assistant commander of the 5th Marine Division, earning the Bronze Star Medal for his service in that capacity during the occupation of Japan.

In China, he later served on the staff of the commanding general, 3rd Marine Brigade, at Shanghai, and at Tianjin as the Chinese Kuomintang Army advanced northward.

Completing that tour of duty in September 1932, he was ordered to the Marine barracks at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, where he served in various capacities for almost three years.

He returned to the United States in June 1941, and the following month, he reported to Marine Corps Headquarters, Washington, D.C., to become assistant officer in charge of the personnel section, Division of Plans and Policies.

In August 1947, Robinson reported again to Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, where he served as director of the Division of Plans and Policies for almost two years.

He left San Francisco in June 1954, and two months later was ordered to The Hague as chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group to the Netherlands.