The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-06-20
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HE Congressional Medal of Honor
recognizes no rank.
49, 1t is awarded to the private or the
I->GA general, the second class seaman or
ZHRES%& fireman or to the rear admiral for
9aNR i Y extraordinary courage, valor surpass-
M Gp ing even that which is expected from
VI az the well-trained, seasoned soldier or
oSSes6 sailor No matter how hazardous
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
dlhcult for an officer to win than for an enlisted
man. because more is expected Of an officer.
Inc medal is bit of bronze suspended from
ribbon. Its intrinsic value be it what 1t may is
OIL no Importance. Into the metal disk are welded
all tn. qualities of man which men admire even
worship. In the archives of the war department
are succinct, unimaginative records of the acts
whlch caused the medal to be pinned to the
breasts of the men who have won it. The papers
Will yellow and crumble the ribbons will rot to
Dust the bronze itself will corrode and vanish
out the things the medal stands for will 60 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 be
won in this war, but it will not be won easily
and though millions may be fighting under the
American flag it will come to but few to wear this
distinguishing mark. In the Spanish war less
than 20 medals were awarded In the Philippines
few given
The last two medals to be awarded were pre-
sented 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 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 case follows: ION July
Tvnr ofu
was engaged with the Dominican armed forces at
the battle of Guayacanes. During running fight
of 1900 yards our forces reached the enemy in
trenchment and Corporal Joseph CLOWN placed
the machine gun Of which he had charge behind
large log the road and Immediately
opened fire the trenches. He was struck once
but continued firing his gun, but moment later
he was again struck and had to be dragged out
of the position into cover sergt. Roswell Winans,
y. S. NJ c.. then arrived with a Colts gun, which
he placed In a most exposed position and coolly
opened fire on the trenches and when the gun
Stunned he stood up and repaired it under fire.
AL the time CLOWN and Winans were handling
their guns they were exposed to 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 words is
even more modest than the official report al
though it is more vivid and picturesque.
ION the morning Of July g." he said, I'VE got
under way with every feeling like
man. Firing the advance guard began early
in the day. Our captain obtained permission to
take platoon forward We kept the guns on
the carriages until within few yards of the fir
ing line then transferred them to the tripods and
Immediately opened fire. The enemy using
mostly old-fashoned breechloaders with big lead
sugs.
1.-THE brush very thick both sides of
the road. Jams were frequent with and each
gun out 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.
I'VE found it good policy to change barrels in
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 we called them) came
rcochetng down the road directly for John
son 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.
THE gun crews promptly gave the place where
the shot fired good combing We continued
to advance under cover of the bushes and trees.
battalion of infantry was deployed Skin
mishers each side of the road and
concealed by q turn in the road and high trees
and bushes.
Directly across the road huge log. At
our err 1T the log q Benet-Mercier had just COM
mencf Uaftng with Corporal Clowns in COM
mand of 1t.
1.-The captain ordered a gun in action ut the
butt Of the tree. It had sooner opened up
than all the bullets in the world seemed coming