Sergeant Ross Lindsey Iams, a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on November 17, 1915 at Fort Riviere, Haiti during the 1915 Haitian campaign. At the time he was serving with 5th Company. Iams was 34 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Iams was born on May 5, 1881 in Graysville, Greene County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. Iams died on March 29, 1952, at the age of 70. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Iams is one of 6 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1915 Haitian campaign and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
In company with members of the 5th, 13th, and 23d Companies and marine and sailor detachment from the U.S.S. Connecticut, Sgt. Iams participated in the attack on Fort Riviere, Haiti, 17 November 1915. Following a concentrated drive, several different detachments of marines gradually closed in on the old French bastion fort in an effort to cut off all avenues of retreat for the Caco bandits. Approaching a breach in the wall which was the only entrance to the fort, Sgt. Iams unhesiatingly jumped through the breach despite constant fire from the Cacos and engaged the enemy in a desperate hand-to-hand combat until the bastion was captured and Caco resistance neutralized.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
From the archives
Additional information on his action comes from U.S. Navy General Order No. 319, dated August 25, 1917:
“On November 17, 1915, it was planned to attack Fort Riviere, Haiti, with a force made up of detachments from the Fifth, Thirteenth, and Twenty-third Companies, and the marine detachment and sailors from the Connecticut. Fort Riviere was on old French bastion fort, about 200 feet on the side, with thick walls of brick and stone, the walls being loopholed. The original entrance had been in the northern side but had been blocked, a small breech in the southern wall being used in its stead. As this breach in the wall was the only entrance to the fort it was naturally covered by the defenders on the inside making passage through it into the fort a most hazardous undertaking for the leading men. Notwithstanding the fact that the fire of the Cacos was constantly passing through this hole in the wall, Sergt. Ross L. Iams, Fifth Company, unhesitatingly jumped through, closely followed by Pvt. Samuel Gross of the Twenty-third Company. A melee then ensued inside of the fort for about 10 minutes, the Cacos fighting desperately with rifles, clubs, stonce, etc., during which several jumped from the walls in an effort to escape, but were shot by the automatic guns of the Fifth Company and by the Thirteenth Company advancing to the attack.
Gunnery Sergt. Daniel Daly, Fifteenth Company, during the operations was the most conspicuous figure among the enlisted personnel.
Sergt. Ross L. Iams, Fifth Company, is recommended for a medal of honor for coolness and bravery in entering Fort Riviere at the head of the attacking force, when such action on his part seemed almost certain to result in his being killed or wounded.
Pvt. Samuel Gross, Twenty-third Company, to receive a medal of honor for his coolness and bravery in entering Fort Riviere immediately behind Sergt. Iams, when such action on his part seemed almost certain to result in his being killed or wounded.
It is urged that Maj. Smedley D. Butler be given a medal of honor for his conspicuous bravery during the assault on Fort Riviere. Two men entered ahead of him, doing so to prevent him from being the first. Theirs was devotion to him, while his action was devotion to duty. The assault inside the fort was made by 23 men with the knowledge that no quarter would be given them."
Timeline
- May 5, 1881Born in Graysville, Greene County, Pennsylvania
- November 17, 1915Act of valor — Fort Riviere, HaitiAge 34. 5th Company
- March 29, 1952DiedAge 70.
- Resting placeFort Rosecrans National CemeterySan Diego, California
