Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-07-06

recognizes no rank
It is awarded to the private the
n general the second class seaman
<gNN@SSM fireman or to the rear admiral for
4SV We extraordinary courage vaor surpass
M XS ing even that which is expected from
~ ~ the we'll strained, seasoned soldier
S9s>lsS6 sailor. No matter how hazardous
duty we'll 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 officer to win than for enlisted
man. because more is expected of an officer.
The medal is a bit of bronze suspended from
ribbon It's intrinsic value, be 1t what 1t may is
of Importance. Into the metal disk are welded
all the qualities of man which men admire,
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 it. 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 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 be
in this war, but it will not be won easily,
and though millions may be fighting under the
American flag 1t will to but few to wear this
distinguishing mark. In the Spanish war less
than 20 medals We're awarded In the Philippines
a few were given
The last two medals to be awarded were pre-
sented to Sergt. Maj. Roswell Wfnans 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 it in a Skin
mish or in battle like that of Gettysburg or of
the Marine.
The report Of the board of investigation for the
navy department in their follows: "On July
1916. OF
engaged with the Dominican armed forces at
the battle of Guayacanes. During 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
a large log across the road and Immediately
opened fire on the trenches. He was struck once
but continued firing his gum but moment later
he again struck and had to be dragged out
of the position into cover. Sergt. Roswell Winans
u. S. M. c., then arrived with Colts gun, which
he placed in most exposed position and coolly
opened fire on the trenches, and when the gun
damned he stood up and repaired it 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 Winan's story in his own words is
even more modest than the official report al
though it is more vivid and picturesque.
son the morning Of July g." he said, 1--WE got
under way with every feeling like 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
tbs carriages until within 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
slugs.
s"The brush was very thick on both sides Of
the road Jams were frequent with and each
gun wore out a couple of shell extractors Diff
Guilty had been experienced all along with our
ammunition. Some Of 1t dated back as far as
1907 1t had evidently been reloaded many times.
"We found 1t good policy to change barrels in
case of a jam in the chambers. In that way we
would be only minute out Of action. party
of the enemy were seen up the road and Corporal
johnson started to put his gun in action. big
lead slug (tin cans, called them) came
ricochetng down the road directly for us. john
son saw it while kneeling behind his gun. He
ducked almost prone, but the thing took 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 good combing We continued
to advance under cover of the bushes and trees.
A battalion of infantry deployed Skin
mishers on each side Of the road and we were
concealed by a. turn in the road and high streeS
and bushes
"Directly across the road was huge log. AT
our end of the log Benet-Mercier had just COM
menced roaring, with Corporal Clowns in COM
mand of it.
'srhe captain ordered a gun in action at the
butt of the tree. 1t had no sooner opened up
'shan all the bullets In the world seemed coming