Roswell Winans

United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient

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. After leaving the army, Winans joined United States Marine Corps on October 10, 1912, as Sergeant and was attached to the Marine Barracks at Mare Island Navy Yard, California. He later participated in the occupation of Veracruz with 1st Marine Brigade in April 1914 and later received Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal for his enlisted service. Winans reached the rank of first sergeant and sailed with 2nd Marine Brigade under Brigadier General Joseph H. Pendleton to Dominican Republic in May 1916. Marines took the cities of Puerto Plata and Monte Cristi on June 1 and Winans participated in the engagement at Guayacanes. He distinguished himself on July 3, 1916, while coolly opened fire with his Colt Gun on the enemy trenches and when the gun jammed, stood up and repaired it under fire. Winans continued firing his gun until the enemy had abandoned the trenches. For this act of valor, he was decorated with the Medal of Honor, the United States highest military decoration.

At the time of the United States entry into World War I in April 1917, Winans assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment at Philadelphia Navy Yard and promoted to the temporary rank of captain on July 26, 1917. He then assumed command of newly created 17th Company, 1st Battalion under Major Julius S. Turrill and began with the intensive training focused on offensive and defensive trench warfare, including trench construction, grenade throwing, bayonet fighting, gas mask drill, weapons firing at land targets and airplanes and artillery and infantry artillery demonstrations. The Fifth Marines embarked for France and arrived to Saint Nazaire in early July of that year and spent the rest of the year with training with the French elite mountain infantry, Chasseurs Alpins, near Gondecourt in northern France. Among the members of his company were several future Marine generals including Robert Blake, LeRoy P. Hunt, Leonard E. Rea and Amor L. Sims. In mid March 1918, Sims and his battalion were ordered to the frontline trenches in the Toulon Sector, just southeast of Verdun. It was a relatively quiet period and they spent their time with the repairing of existing trenches and dugouts, digging new trenches, and stringing and repairing barbed wire entanglements. The 5th Marines departed Toulon Sector in mid May 1918 and after brief period of training at the Gizors training area, they were finally ordered to the frontline north of Marne River near Château Thierry on June 2. Winans commanded his company during the battle of Belleau Wood and distinguished himself during the assault on Hill 1942, for which he was decorated with Silver Star citation. He was shot through the foot on June 14, 1918, during German counterattack, but 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. Winans received his second Silver Star citation for this act of bravery. Winans later rejoined his battalion and participated in the fighting in the Argonne Forest during the Meuse Argonne Offensive and received French Croix de guerre with Guilt Star. Following the Armistice, he marched with his regiment to the Rhineland and participated in the occupation duties in Coblenz.

Upon his return stateside in September 1919, Winans retained the rank of Captain and assumed command of the Marine Detachment of receiving ship at Philadelphia Navy Yard. His main duty was to maintain order on the ship, which served as barracks for troops returning from overseas. He was ordered to the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico in September 1922 and entered the Field officers' course in order to improve his officer's education. Winans completed the course one year later and joined the 1st Brigade of Marines under Bridagier general Theodor P. Kane in Haiti. He participated in the peacetime operations and jungle patrols against Cacos rebels and returned to the United States in November 1925. Winans then served at Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, before he was transferred to the Marine Corps Base San Diego, California in August 1927. In August 1930, Winans returned to the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico and entered the Company officers' course, which he completed one year later. He then participated in the peacekeeping operations in Nicaragua, before returned stateside and was ordered to the Army Industrial College in Washington, D. C. in August 1931. Winans graduated in May 1932 and was promoted to Major. He then remained in Washington area, serving at the Headquarters Marine Corps and was promoted to lieutenant colonel on July 27, 1935. Winan was ordered to Far East in October 1936 and assumed command of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. He participated in the defense of Shanghai International Settlement in China during the period of rising tension between China and Japan. Winans remained in China until April 1938, when he was transferred to Marine Corps Base San Diego, California. He was promoted to colonel on March 1, 1941.

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States entry into World War II, Winans was still serving as Chief of staff, Marine Corps Base San Diego under Brigadier general William H. Rupertus and was co responsible the training of new recruits due to critical need of troops for combat units. He served in this capacity consecutively under generals James L. Underhill, and William C. James, before assumed temporary command of the base in February 1944. He was relieved by Brigadier general Matthew H. Kingman in April that year and served in San Diego Base until December, when he was transferred to the Hawthorne Naval Ammunition Depot, Nevada as Commanding officer of Marine Barracks there. Winans was responsible for the guarding of the Depot until the end of April 1946, when he was relieved of duty awaiting retirement. Winans retired on August 1, 1946, and was advanced to the rank of brigadier general on the retired list for having been specially commended in combat.

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.

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.