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 on December 9, 1887 in Brookville, Indiana. He died on April 7, 1968, at the San Diego Naval Hospital, San Diego, California. He was 80.

Military service
Brigadier General Winans, much-decorated veteran of almost forty years of military service, retired from active duty on August 1, 1946. His combat service goes back to the Banana Wars in Central America and in France during World War I.

He earned 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. Serving there 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.

Awards and decorations
BGen Winans' personal decorations include:

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."