Roswell Winans
Brigadier General, U.S. Marine Corps
Medal of Honor Recipient
Dominican Republic

Roswell Winans was a U.S. Marine Corps officer who, as a First Sergeant, earned the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during combat in the Dominican Republic.

Roswell Winans was born on 9 December 1887 in Brookville, IN. After serving four years in the U.S. Army, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on 10 October 1912. He rose to the rank of First Sergeant and saw duty during the Mexican and Haitian Campaigns before his service in the Dominican Republic.

He earned the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during an engagement at Guayacanas in the Dominican Republic on 3 July 1916. He was cited for extraordinary heroism against a considerable force of rebels on the line of march of his unit.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Brigadier General (then First Sergeant), U.S. Marine Corps

Place and date: Guayacanas, Dominican Republic, 3 July 1916

G.O. No.: 244, 30 October 1916

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. 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.

Winans was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant during World War I and had reached the rank of Captain by the end of the war. Prior to World War II, he served at various Marine posts and stations in the U.S., as well as taking part in the Second Nicaraguan Campaign. By the outbreak of World War II, he was a Colonel.

Winans, a much-decorated veteran of almost forty years of military service, retired from active duty on 1 August 1946. At the time of his retirement, he was promoted to Brigadier General.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Silver Star Medal (2 Awards)
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 with Palm (Awarded by France in World War I)

Death and Burial

Brigadier General Roswell Winans died on 7 April 1968 at the San Diego Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA. He was 80. He is buried at Cypress View Mausoleum and Crematory in San Diego, CA.