The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-07-07

- HE Congressional Medal of Honor
recognizes no rank.
1t is awarded to the private or the
general, the second class seaman or
ASA%6N fireman or to the rear admiral for
NJ &S extraordinary courage, valor surpass-
ing even that which is expected from
a. ~ 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
all the qualities of man which men admire, even
worship. In the archives of the war department
are succinct, unimaginative 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
tho 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 be
won In this war, but 1t will not be won easily,
and though millions may be fighting under the
American flag 1t will come to but few to wear this
distinguishing mark. In the Spanish war less
than 20 medals were awarded. In the Philippines
a few we're given.
The last two medals to be awarded were pre-
scented to Sergt. Maj. Roswell Winans and Cor
poral Joseph A, CLOWN of the marine corps, for
their work at the battle of Guayacanes, in Santo
Domingo. 1t is the act itself which wins the
medal for a man, and not only does his rank
matter not at all, but he may win II IN a Skin
mish or in a battle like that of Gettysburg or Of
the Marne.
The report of the board Of investigation for the
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 a running fight
of 200 yards our forces reached the enemy in
trenchment and Corporal Joseph CLOWN placed
the machine gun of which he had charge behind
q 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. Sergt. Roswell Winans,
o.. s. NJ. G., then arrived with a Colts gun, which
he placed In a most exposed position and cooly
opened fire on the trenches, and when the gun
TANNED he stood up and repaired 1t under fire.
All the time CLOWN 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. Sergeant Winans continued fir
ing his gun until the enemy had abandoned the
trenches"
Sergeant Wlnan's story in his own words is
even more modest than the official report, al
though 1t Is more vivid and picturesque.
ION the morning Of July g." he said, 1--WE got
under way with every one feeling like a new
man. Firing on the advance guard began early
In the day. Our captain obtained permission to
take our platoon forward. We kept the guns on
the carriages until within a few yards of the FIR
ing line, then transferred them to the tripods and
Immediately opened fire. The enemy was using
mostly old-fashioned breechloaders with big lead
9lugs.
"The brush was very thick on both sides of
the road. Jams were frequent with us and each
gun wore out a couple Of shell extractors. Diff
Guilty had been experienced all along with our
ammunition. Some Of it dated back as far as
1907. 1t had evidently been reloaded many times.
1--WE found 1t good policy to change barrels in
case of q jam In the chambers. In that way we
bwould be only a minute out Of action. A party
of the enemy were seen up the road and Corporal
johnson started to put his gun IN action. A big
lead slug (in cans, We called tAem) came
ricocheting down the road directly for us. John
son saw it while kneeling behind his gun. He
ducked almost prone, but the thing took a long
skip and hit him In the jaw, passed down and
lodged back of the shoulder.
1.-THE gun crews promptly gave the place where
the shot was fired a good combing. We continued
10 advance under cover OF the bushes and trees.
A battalion Of infantry was deployed as Skin
mishers on each side of the road and we were
concealed by a turn in the road and high trees
and bushes. ,tb0
sDirectly across the road was o huge log. At
our end of the log a Benet-Msrcier had Just COM
menced roaring. with Corporal Clowns in COM
mand of 1t.
arhe captain ordered a gun in action at the
INIT of the tree. Il had no sooner opened up
than all the bullets in the world seemed coming