Serving as a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, First Sergeant Roswell Winans received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 3, 1916 in Guayacanas, Dominican Republic during the 1916 Dominican campaign. Winans was 28 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General.
Winans was born on December 9, 1887 in Brookville, Franklin County, Indiana. His Medal of Honor is credited to Washington. Winans died on April 7, 1968, at the age of 80. He is buried at Cypress View Mausoleum in San Diego, California. Records also list him as Winans, Ross Lindsey.
Winans is one of 3 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1916 Dominican campaign and one of 40 credited to Washington.
Official Medal of Honor citation
During an engagement at Guayacanas on 3 July 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. Gowin, USMC, placed the machine gun, 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 Sgt. Winans, USMC, 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 Sgt. Winans continued firing his gun until the enemy had abandoned the trenches.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
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.
- Age at death: 80
- Resting place: Cypress View Mausoleum
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Roswell Winans received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I, World War II, Banana Wars.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Washington →
Timeline
- December 9, 1887Born in Brookville, Franklin County, Indiana
- July 3, 1916Act of valor — Guayacanas, Dominican RepublicAge 28.
- April 7, 1968DiedAge 80.
- Resting placeCypress View MausoleumSan Diego, California
Biography
Roswell Winans (December 9, 1887 – April 7, 1968) was a highly decorated United States Marine, who as a First Sergeant earned the Medal of Honor during combat in the Dominican Republic. He was later commissioned and served as a company officer with the 5th Marine Regiment in France receiving several citations for bravery in combat. During the interwar period, Winans remained in the Marine Corps and served in Haiti, Nicaragua and China. He rose to the rank of Colonel at the beginning of World War II and served as Chief of Staff, Marine Corps Base San Diego, California for the most of War.
From the Wikipedia article “Roswell Winans”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
