The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-07-20

y HE Congressional Medal OF Honor
recognizes rank.
II IL awarded TO the private or the
- general, the second class seaman or
%H&a4tN fireman or 10 the rear admiral for
NJ B extraordinary courage, valor surpass-
M Ing even that which Is expected from
N ~ the we'll trained seasoned soldier or
SaMLSS~ sailor. No matter how hazardous
duty well performed that ia 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 IN more
ulmcult Tor an officer to win than for nm enlisted
man because more u expected Of an officer.
The medal Il Bit OF bronze suspended from
ribbon. Its Intrinsic value. be II what II may IL
~ no Importance Into the metal disk are welded
MI the qualities or man which men admire even
Worship. In the archives OF the war department
ale suecihct nnimaglnatiye records Of the acts
which caused the medal 10 be pinned to the
breasts Of the men who have won IT, The papers
VIII yellow and crumble the ribbons win rot TO
uus9 the bronze itself viii eorrode and vanish
put the things the medal stands for will 20 on and
the epic OF the Medal of Honor will continue 10 be
inscribed In the hearts of men
There II no doubt the Medal OF Honor will be
won Ia this war; but II viii not he won easily
ana though millions may be fighting under the
American Ting u VIII come 10 but few 10 wear this
distinguishing mark In the Spanish war less
than 20 medals were awarded. In the Philippines
a few were given
The last two medals TO be awarded were pre-
scented 70 sergt, Nal Roswell winans and Cor.
pornl Joseph A. Clown Of the marine corps for
their work At the battle of Guayacanes In sahNo
Domingo. II II the act itself which wins the
medal for man, and not only does his rank
matter not ut all but he may win II In a sktr-
miSh or in battle like that Of Gettysburg or Of
the Marne
The IMPORT OF the hoard Of investigation for the
navy department Ia their follows ron Jnly
2, 1910, the Twenty-elghth company OF marines
was engaged with the Dominican armed forces nj
the battle OF Guayaeanes During a running fight
OF 100 yards our forces reached the enemy IN
trenchtnent and Corporal Joseph CLOWN placed
the machine gun Of which he had charge behind
LANCE log across the road and immediately
opened hre on the trenches. He was struck once
bat continued firing his gun. but moment later
he was again struck aud had to be dragged out
OF the position into cover. Sergt Roswell winans
Y. =, NJ, G., then arrived with Colts gun, which
he placed In most exposed position and cooliy
opened IRE the trenches. and when the gun
iammed he stood up and repaired Il under fire.
All the time CLOWN and winanS were handling
their guns they were exposed 20 very heavy
nre which was striking into the logs and around
the men. seven men being wounded and one killed
within ~ feet Sergeant winans continued Hr-
ing his gun until the enemy had abandoned the
trenches"
Sergeant wlnans story In hts own words Is
though Il Il mare vivid and picturesque.
"On the morning Of July 3" he said. 1--WE got
under way with every enc FEELING Ike
man. flirting the advance guard began early
In the day our captain obtained permission to
take eur platoon forward. We kept the guns on
the carriages until within few yards Of the hr.
Ing line then transferred them to tho tripods aud
immediately opened hrr. The enemy was using
mostly cid. fashioned hrvsehuadtrs with big lead
slugS
me brush was very thick on both sides ot
the road. Jams were frequent with US and eace
gun wnrS out couple II she'll extraetors. plG-
Guilty had heen experienced all along with our
ammunition, Some ~ Il dated hack &c far
1907. II had evidently been reloaded Hinny times
we found tt good policy to change harrvls in
case % ism ia the chambers. In that way we
would BE- only minute cut ~ action. A party
~ the enemy were up the Rad and Corporal
johnson started to put bis gun In action. hlg
Iced slug tun cans called thelnl came
ricochrting down the rad directly Zoe rs John.
son saw Il while knselinE behind bis gun Tie
Jucked almost prone but the thing took long
sktp aud hlJ him In the law. passed down aud
lodgr, hack ~ the shoulder.
THE gun crews promptly give tho place where
che shot was Hrvd a good couihins. We continued
r. advance under cover 81 the bushes aud trceS
\ battalion % infantry deptoyed Skin.
ulsherx On each side of the road and were
concealed by q turn In the Rad and high trees
and bushes,
directly across Tn read was a huge los. At
our end Of the los Benet-Mercier had Just CON-
menccd roaring. with Corporal Clowns In com
mand Of pt.
THE captain ordered a gun In action at the
hutt OF the tree II hnd no sooner opened up
han all the bullets In the world seemed coming