Roswell Winans First Sergeant USMC – A HOOSIER WHO WOULDN’T QUIT

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BY DUANE ALLEN VACHON, PH.D. Roswell was born at Brookville Indiana on December 9th 1887. There must be something in the water at Brookville, aside from being the home town of Roswell Winans, it has also produced 5 Governors and one famous porno actress Hanna Hilton. Not bad for a town with a population of around 2500.

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Brigadier General Roswell Winans, who earned the Medal of Honor during combat in the Dominican Republic, died 7 April 1968, at the San Diego Naval Hospital, San Diego, California. He was 80.

Brigadier General Winans, much-decorated veteran of almost forty years of military service, retired from active duty on 1 August 1946. His combat service goes back to the “Banana Wars” in Central America and in France during World War I.

He earned the Nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for action during an engagement at Guayacanas in the Dominican Republic on 3 July 1916. Serving there as a first sergeant, he was cited for extraordinary heroism in action against a considerable force of rebels on the line of march of his unit.

After serving four years in the U.S. Army, he enlisted in the Marine Corps on 10 October 1912. He rose to the rank of first sergeant, seeing duty during the Mexican, Haitian and Dominican campaigns, before he was commissioned a second lieutenant during World War I. A captain at the end of that war, he served during the years prior to World War II at various Marine posts and stations in this country, as well as taking part in the Second Nicaraguan Campaign. He was a colonel at the outbreak of World War II, and was promoted to brigadier general upon retirement, 1 August 1946.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, BGen Winans’ personal decorations include the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a second award, the Purple Heart, and the French Croix de Guerre with palm.

Medal of Honor
Awarded for actions during the Dominican Republic Occupation

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Sergeant Roswell Winans (MCSN: 1074), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Marine Expeditionary Force (Dominican Republic) in action during an engagement at Guayacanas on 3 July 1916. First Sergeant Winans participated in action against a considerable force of rebels on the line of march. During a running fight of 1,200 yards, our forces reached the enemy entrenchments and Corporal Joseph A. Glowin, U.S.M.C., placed the machinegun, of which he had charge, behind a large log across the road and immediately opened fire on the trenches. He was struck once but continued firing his gun, but a moment later he was again struck and had to be dragged out of the position into cover. First Sergeant Winans, U.S.M.C., then arrived with a Colt’s gun which he placed in a most exposed position, coolly opened fire on the trenches and when the gun jammed, stood up and repaired it under fire. All the time Glowin and Winans were handling their guns they were exposed to a very heavy fire which was striking into the logs and around the men, seven men being wounded and one killed within 20 feet. First Sergeant Winans continued firing his gun until the enemy had abandoned the trenches.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 244 (November 2, 1916)

Action Date: 3-Jul-1916

Service: Marine Corps

Rank: First Sergeant

Division: Marine Expeditionary Force (Dominican Republic)

Rank and organization: Brigadier General (then First Sergeant), U.S. Marine Corps. Place and date: Guayacanas, Dominican Republic, 3 July 1916. Entered service at: Washington. Born. 9 December 1887, Brookville, Ind. G.O. No.: 244, 30 October 1916.

//Woodrow Wilson// President

Military service
Brigadier General Winans, much-decorated veteran of almost forty years of military service, retired from active duty on August 1, 1946. His combat service goes back to the Banana Wars in Central America and in France during World War I.
He earned the United States’ highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for action during an engagement at Guayacanas in the Dominican Republic on July 3, 1916. Serving there as a first sergeant, he was cited for extraordinary heroism in action against a considerable force of rebels on the line of march of his unit.
After serving four years in the United States Army, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on October 10, 1912. He rose to the rank of first sergeant, seeing duty during the Mexican, Haitian and Dominican campaigns, before he was commissioned a second lieutenant during World War I. A captain at the end of that war, he served prior to World War II at various Marine posts and stations in this country, as well as taking part in the Second Nicaraguan Campaign. He was a colonel at the outbreak of World War II, and was promoted to brigadier general upon retirement on August 1, 1946.
Awards and decorations

Brigadier General Winans’s personal decorations include:

Medal of Honor

Silver Star w/ 1 oak leaf cluster
Purple Heart
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal

Mexican Service Medal
Haitian Campaign Medal (1917)
Dominican Campaign Medal

World War I Victory Medal
Nicaraguan Campaign Medal (1933)
Croix de guerre (WWI)

General Winan is buried at Burial Cypress View Mausoleum and Crematory San Diego California, USA

The information in this article was sourced from a variety of sources both internal and external. Every effort was made to ensure that the information is current and correct. These articles are presented to honor the heroes they are written about.

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.

Author: Duane Vachon
Duane A. Vachon PhD has been a licensed clinical psychologist for over thirty years. He belongs to the order of Secular Franciscans and is a life member of the Guild of Pastoral Psychology. After living almost 40 years as an expatriate, he now writes from his home in Hawaii. He has several books published and has written hundreds of articles on social justice and spiritual issues. His Doctoral thesis on ethics has set the standard at many universities. Reach Dr. Vachon at vachon.duane@gmail.com

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