Roswell Winans

Brigadier General Roswell Winans (December 9, 1887–April 7, 1968) was a United States Marine, who as a First Sergeant, earned the Medal of Honor during combat in the Dominican Republic.

Roswell Winans was born December 9, 1887 in Brookville, Indiana.

He received 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. While serving 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.

He died on April 7, 1968, at the San Diego Naval Hospital, San Diego, California. He was buried at San Diego Naval Hospital.

BGen Winans' 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)

Medal of Honor citation

The Medal of Honor was awarded to then-First Sergeant Roswell Winans, USMC, on October 30, 1916 for his actions in Guayacanas on July 3, 1916.

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

Citation:

During an engagement at Guayacanas on July 3, 1916, 1st Sgt. 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 Cpl. 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. 1st Sgt. 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, 7 men being wounded and 1 killed within 20 feet. 1st Sgt. Winans continued firing his gun until the enemy had abandoned the trenches.

That day, July 3, 1916, only 80 Dominicans led by General Carlos Daniel and captain Máximo Cabral fought nearly a thousand heavily armed American Marines (24 officers and 837 soldiers) which intended to reach the city of Santiago de los Caballeros to take the fortress there.

Silver star citation (1st award)

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918) Captain Roswell Winans (MCSN: 0-1074), United States Marine Corps, is cited by the Commanding General, SECOND Division, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Captain Winans distinguished himself while serving with the Fifth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces at Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June to 10 July 1918.

Silver star citation (2nd award)

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Captain Roswell Winans (MCSN: 0-1074), United States Marine Corps, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Captain Winans distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving with the 17th Company, 5th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, on 15 June 1918, at Belleau Woods, France. Severely wounded in the foot, he refused to be evacuated until the enemy was repulsed and until he had made a personal inspection of the line and found it secure. Refusing assistance, he proceeded to the rear across the shell-swept fields behind Belleau Wood to the evacuation station, thereby aggravating the injury to his foot, sacrificing his own interests to the common cause.