Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-07-05
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~ HE Congressional Medal of Honor
recognizes no rank.
1t is awarded to the private or the
general, the second class seaman or
&7N&3A fireman or to the rear admiral for
~ 16 extraordinary courage, valor slrpass'
~ ing even that which is expected from
W ~ the well-trained, seasoned soldier or
e sailor. No matter how hazardous
a duty well performed, that Is not
enough. To win the medal something more than
Is demanded by duty must be achieved.
Unlike some Of the European decorations for
bravery, the American Medal of Honor Is more
difficult for an officer to win than for an enlisted
man. because more is expected of an officer.
The medal Is a bit Of bronze suspended from a
ribbon. Its intrinsic value, be 1t what 1t may. Is
Of no Importance. Into the metal disk are welded
nil the qualities of man which men admire, even
worship. In the archives Of the war department
are succinct, unimnginative records of the acts
which caused the medal to be pinned to the
breasts OF the men who have won 1t. The papers
will yellow and %crumble, the ribbons will rot to
dust, the bronze itself will corrode and vanish,
but the things the medal stands for Will go on and
the epic Of the Medal Of Honor will continue to be
inscribed In the hearts of men.
. | There Is no doubt the Medal Of Honor will he
won in this war, but 1t will not be won easily,
and though millions may be fighting under the
5 American flag 1t will come to but few to wear this
Y distinguishing mark. In the Spanish war less
!. than 20 medals were awarded. In the Philippines
+ Il few were given.
The last two medals to be awarded were pre-
f sented to Sergt. Maj. Roswell Winans and Cor
& poral Joseph A. CLOWN of the marine corps Tor
n their work ut the battle of Guayacnnes, In Santo
Domingo. It is the act itself which wins the
medal for a man, and not only does his rank
ID matter not at all, but he may win 1t in a ski.
m,sh or In a battle like that Of Gettysburg or OF
N the Marine.
70 The report of the board of investigation for the
re- navy department in their case follows: ION July
3, 1916, the Twenty-eighth company of marines
was engaged with the Dominican armed forces at
the battle of Guayacanes. During Il running fight
of 100 yards our forces reached the enemy In
trenchment and Corporal Joseph CLOWN placed
the machine gun of which he had charge behind
n large 10. across the road and Immediately
opened fire on the trenches. He was struck once
but continued firing his gun, but u moment later
he was again struck and had to be dragged our
i Of the position into cover. Sergt. Roswell Wlnahs'
y y. s. NJ. G.. then arrived with a Colts gun, when
he placed in a most exposed position and cooliy
u opened fire on the trenches, and when the gun
damned he stood up and repaired 1t under nre.
! All the time CLOWN and Winans were handling
their guns they were exposed to a very heaVy
fire which was striking into the logs ana around
the men, seven men being wounded and one killed
= within 20 feet. Sergeant Winnns continued mr.
Ing MS gun uHtiI IL SueHy ~"
nc trenches"
" Sergeant Winan's story In his own words II
-. even more modest than the official report, al
though 1t Is more vivid and picturesque.
~ ION the morning of July g." ne satd. I'VE go
10, under way with every one feeling like a new
No. man. Firing on the advance guard began earl
in the day. Our captain obtained. permission t
81. tnke our platoon forward. We kept the guns o.
'ne the carriages until within n few yards Of the fiji
inc line. then transferred them to the tripods an
Immediately opened fire. The enemy was usin
nus mostly old.fashioned breechloaders with big len
inc slugs.
the road, Jams were frequent with us and eac
GUN wore out a couple Of shell extractors. Diff
&c culty had been experienced NIL along with on
W ammunition. Some Of 1t dated back as Tar g
1907. 1t had evidently been reloaded many time
1--WE found It good policy to change barrels
case Of a Jam In the chambers. In that WY v
ney would be only a minute out OF action. a par
Of the enemy were seen up the road and Corpor
johnson started to put his gun In action. A D
lead slug (tin cans, we called them) can
Fted ncocheting down the road directly for US. job
any, son saw It while kneeling behind his gun. !
70 ducked almost prone. but the thing took a lo'
sion skip and hit him In the jaw, passed down al
lodged back Of the shoulder.
sup 'The gun crews promptly gave the place whs
N a the shot was fred a good combing. We continu
b q m a6vance under cover Of the bushes and tfe'
4 battalion Of infantry was deplcyed a. *
e. mishers on ench side of the road and We w
ar concealed by a turn in the road and high tre
~, and bushes.
the "Directly across the road was a huge log.
used 80 - tho n. ! T,enet.M ercier had lust co
lded :. IA ,c.ans. With Corporal Clowns 10 CO
uced .a.S asM
tine .The captain ordered a gun In action at
butt Of the tree. It had no sooner opened
'nou' lhan ali the bullets In the world seemed c0nl