<p>
MILITARY HISTORY</p>
<p>
Cadet United States Military Academy, June 16, 1887</p>
<p>
Second Lieutenant of Cavalry, June 12, 1891</p>
<p>
First Lieutenant of Cavalry, April 30, 1898</p>
<p>
Major, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, May 25, 1898</p>
<p>
Honorably mustered out of volunteers, November 26, 1898</p>
<p>
Captain, Cavalry February 2, 1901</p>
<p>
Major, Cavalry September 2, 1914</p>
<p>
Lieutenant Colonel, Cavalry, February 2, 1917</p>
<p>
Colonel (temporary) August 5, 1917</p>
<p>
Brigadier General, National Army, June 26, 1918</p>
<p>
Honorably discharged, National Army, July 31, 1919</p>
<p>
Colonel, Cavalry February 23, 1920</p>
<p>
Brigadier General, December 30, 1922</p>
<p>
Major General October 18, 1927</p>
<p>
Some outstanding points in his military service:—</p>
<p>
Served in the Indian Territory and Texas, 1891 to 1897,</p>
<p>
With 35th Michigan Volunteers in Santiago Cuba campaign, June and July 1898.</p>
<p>
Quartermaster of transport “Flinto-hive” during China Relief expedition, 1900.</p>
<p>
Served in the Philippine Islands, 1906-1907.</p>
<p>
Professor of Military Science and Tactics. Pennsylvania Military College, August 1909 to August 1911.</p>
<p>
Served in Hawaii, 1913-1914-1915.</p>
<p>
Commanding squadron, 7th Cav., Punitive expedition into Mexico, 1916.</p>
<p>
Sailed for France, A.E.F., November 14, 1917.</p>
<p>
Student, General Staff College, Langres, France, and G-3 Service of Supply at Tours, till March 31, 1918.</p>
<p>
Commanding Officer, Pontanezen Barracks, France, till May 15, 1918.</p>
<p>
Commanding 6th Infantry A.E.F., to July 11, 1918.</p>
<p>
Commanding General, 64th Infantry Brigade, A.E.F., participating in Aisne-Marne; Oise-Anse and Meuse-Argonne offensives, 1918 to May 5, 1919.</p>
<p>
With 2nd Cavalry at Ft. Riley, Kans. to August 20, 1920; comdg. 10th Cavalry and Post of Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., to September 19, 1921; comdg. 10th Cav. and 2nd Cav. Brigade and Post, Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., to December 30, 1922.</p>
<p>
Commanding 8th Inf. Brigade and Camp McClellan, Ala. with Headquarters at Ft. McPherson, Ga. 1923 to 1925.</p>
<p>
Commanding Ft. Clark, Tex. and 1st Cav. Brigade, Oct. 1925 to March 1926.</p>
<p>
Commanding Ft. Bliss, Texas and 1st Cavalry Division to October 1927.</p>
<p>
Superintendent—United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, Oct. 1927 to March 1928.</p>
<p>
Commanding Hawaiian Division, Schofield Barracks, T. H., April 5, 1928 to October 24, 1930.</p>
<p>
Commanding Hawaiian Department, Honolulu, T. H., in addition to other duties, July 9, 1929 to September 24, 1929 and from August 8, to October 24, 1930.</p>
<p>
Commanding 8th Corps Area, Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, from November 22, 1930 to date of retirement October 31, 1933.</p>
<p>
Member of the League of Nations commission for the Government of Letitia January to July 1934. This was to settle a boundary dispute between two South American nations, Colombia and Peru.</p>
<p>
AWARDS AND CITATIONS</p>
<p>
Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal:—”For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services. He showed marked efficiency and excellent judgment while commanding the 64th Brigade in actions at the second battle of the Marne; in the attack and capture of Juvigny, and in the operations at Boise de la Norine; Boise de Chene Sec, and Bantheville Woods. In these actions by his tactical ability he was always master of the situation and executed his tactical plans with a confidence that was an inspiration to his troops”.</p>
<p>
Awarded:—Silver Star Citation by the War Department, May 6, 1924, for gallantry in action against Villa’s forces at Tomochic, Mexico, April 22, 1916.</p>
<p>
Awarded: French Legion of Honor.</p>
<p>
Awarded: French Croix de Guerre.</p>
<p>
<em>Edwin Baruch Winans</em> was born at Hamburg, Michigan, October 31, 1869, the son of Edwin Baruch Winans, a former Governor of Michigan, and Elizabeth Galloway. His early education was had at the Michigan Military Academy at Orchard Lake, Michigan, from which institution he went to West Point, entering with the Class of Ninety-one on June 16, 1887.</p>
<p>
Winans early developed those soldierly qualities which always distinguished him. He had been cadet first captain of the Battalion of Cadets of the Michigan Military Academy and had commanded the picked company of that institution that won the competitive drill of similar cadet organizations of the country held in Washington, D.C., in the summer of 1886, the year before he entered West Point. At the end of Plebe year at the Academy he won the coveted distinction of “First Corps” and wore chevrons during his entire cadetship. In the estimation of his classmates he easily stood one or two in general soldierly qualities and in prospects for distinction in his future career, an estimate that was abundantly justified by time.</p>
<p>
He was lovingly known to his classmates as “Sep” due to an amusing though at the time humiliating incident of the fall of Plebe year, when for some trivial and pardonable error at Artillery Drill the Tactical officer commanding asked him ironically if he were a September member. This was too good a chance for his classmates to lose and the writer of these notes gleefully and cruelly dubbed him “Sep”, which pseudonym he has carried ever since.</p>
<p>
Winans’ service comprised duty with troops in various parts of the United States, Cuba, Philippine Islands, Mexico and Hawaii and detached service on college duty, transport service, remount duty, service schools and militia duty.</p>
<p>
Where the whole record is one of duty well performed it is hard to pick the high spots, but mention should be made of his excellent record as Major of the 34th Mich. Vol. Inf. in 1898 when he commanded his battalion with distinction at Santiago. Also of the excellent service done in command of his troop in the Philippine campaign of ‘99 and 1900 and his command of a squadron of the 7th Cavalry in the Punitive Expedition to Mexico in 1916. His service as Brigadier General in France won him the Distinguished Service Medal. He was awarded Silver Star Citation by the War Department May 6, 1924 for gallantry in action against Villa’s forces at Tomochic, Mexico, April 22, 1916. He was also awarded the French Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre.</p>
<p>
The distinction which perhaps gave Winans the greatest satisfaction of any in his long career was his selection as Superintendent of the Military Academy. Loving and revering his Alma Mater as he did, he realized that selection to command it was the supreme honor it could confer upon one of its sons. Though his term was short, as it was an interim appointment and he was already slated for important command elsewhere, he placed his stamp there and left his record. However lowly a man may be in his own eyes, to have his name in the same category with those of Sylvanus Thayer and Robert Edward Lee, to mention but two stars in that galaxy whose light is part of the illumination of the Nation’s history, could not fail to be a satisfaction. He also thoroughly enjoyed his tour of duty as commanding officer of the 10th Cavalry and of the Cavalry Division.</p>
<p>
In every grade from Second Lieutenant to Major General his record was one of outstanding ability, sound knowledge of his profession, strong compelling leadership, unfaltering gallantry and those unusual qualities which made him at the same time respected and admired by those under him and trusted implicitly by those above.</p>
<p>
While a strict disciplinarian he was never the martinet and never asked of those he commanded that to which he was not ready to lead them himself. While not an athlete, Winans always kept himself in fine physical condition by abstemious temperate living, and hence was always fit and in condition for any call of duty which might come. Immaculate in dress and equipment he set an example to his men in that soldierly appearance and demeanor which resulted in his command always being one that was distinguished for its fine military appearance and training. A man who served in Winans’ troop of the 4th Cavalry said to the writer that his old troop commander stood out in his recollection as a man of marked attainments and commanding leadership, whose example had been of abiding influence in his life. He cited the fact that a number of men of his time in the troop had since won promotion and distinction, which he had always attributed largely to the inspiration which they, as young men, in the formative period of their lives, had gotten from the example and training given them by Winans.</p>
<p>
As a comrade Winans was always loved, though a fine natural reserve compelled that respectful treatment which men willingly accord to unaffected dignity.</p>
<p>
Winans married in June the year after graduation, Edith May Auman, the daughter of Captain (later Brigadier General) Auman of the Army. By her he had two daughters who followed the footsteps of their parents and both married in the Army. His family life was happy and he was always a considerate and loving husband and father.</p>
<p>
Winans’ outstanding characteristic was perhaps a thorough knowledge of his profession in every phase of his career and his confidence in his ability to use his knowledge, coupled with a high sense of duty. No demand which conditions made on him or his command was ever beyond the call of duty, and it was accepted immediately and cheerfully. This was in large part the result of his West Point training—a part of the spirit imbued in him by his rock-ribbed Alma Mater. It is in the hands of such men as Edwin Baruch Winans that the motto of the Academy is safe. “Duty, Honor, Country.” To him it was all-impelling, not merely an empty shibboleth. It was the God-given marching orders of his life and with all the ardor of a high born trained soldier spirit he followed it. May God grant him peace and may eternal light rest upon him.</p>
<p>
<em>—A. M. D.</em></p>
<p>
The preceding article was written by a classmate, Colonel A. M. Davis, and was found in an envelope containing data on General Winans’ service. Some minor changes have been made but otherwise it is as written by Colonel Davis. The present writer, another classmate, has always thought and spoken of Winans as “Sep”, and he will be referred to by that name during my part of the article. Sep was an outstanding cadet from the start. He showed the result of his military training at Orchard Lake and he stood out like a shining light among the collection of beasts assembled at West Point that year. I remember that when we drew our first dress coats the inspecting officer said—”Mr. Winans you look as though you had been here a year”—the only words of praise that I heard at that inspection. There was considerable speculation as to how much extra hazing he would receive on account of his previous tin soldier training. It he did receive extra attention, I never heard of it I do not believe the most hardened plebe hazer would continue to work long on Sep, he was too fine a man. There was a natural dignity and reserve about him that inspired respect from all with whom he came in contact. I was not especially intimate with him during cadet days. I do not recall that he was a member of any special group, he was friendly with all. I recall that he was always the first man out to assembly for any formation and at any meeting of the class he always wanted to get rid of the matter in hand and go on to doing something else. He never tried to make himself prominent in class affairs and was content to leave all such matters to others.</p>
<p>
After graduation Sep got his father, who was then, or had been, Governor of Michigan, to invite the other three cadets from that state to attend the summer camp of the state militia. After the camp was over we visited Sep and met his fine family at their beautiful home on the border of a small lake. It was not far from Orchard Lake Military Academy. Brought up in such a family and surroundings Sep was bound to have the fine character and the natural dignity he maintained throughout his life. In achievement Sep ranked with the top two or three men in the class, in character he was second to none.</p>
<p>
After graduation, except for occasional times at class reunions, I saw little of Sep until 1923, when he was stationed at Fort McPherson, Ga. and Camp McClellan, Ala. For the next four years I saw and served with him frequently. His most outstanding characteristic was his ability to maintain strict discipline and at the same time hold the respect and affection of those under him. Such tokens of affection were shown practically every time he departed from a command, they were too many to mention here.</p>
<p>
Sep retired for age on October 31, 1933. He was not the youngest man in the class but he was on the active list about one year and four months longer than any classmate. His record envelope contains letters from practically every officer under whom he served in his later years, all praising his services. There were two or three from General Pershing, who was especially warm in his praise. Here are three of these letters chosen from the many. From General W. G. Haan who commanded the 32nd Division:</p>
<p>
“I consider General Winans one of our very ablest officers, regardless of rank. He is qualified for any command that can be given him”. Letter from General Pershing, November 20, 1918: “It gives me great pleasure to inform you that on October 20th I recommended you for promotion to the grade of Major General basing my recommendation on the efficiency of your service with the American Expeditionary Forces”.</p>
<p>
Letter from General Pershing June 1937 inviting Sep to be present at the unveiling of a monument in France: Extract—”If you could realize the personal satisfaction it would give me to have you present with others who had important positions in the army during those grilling days of the Meuse-Argonne battle, I am sure your wish to be here would be all the greater. But whether you can come or not, you will know how sincerely I desire your presence”.</p>
<p>
Some time prior to his retirement Sep had purchased an historic Virginia house in Vienna, Va., about thirty miles from Washington. The estate dates from revolutionary times and the original owner, an officer in the revolutionary war, and his wife were buried near the house. Here for ten happy years Sep led the life of a country gentleman. Some members of his family were usually with him, he had his horses and his dogs, he loved to entertain his friends both army and civilian, entered into the social life of the community and was interested in church affairs. (He had always been a regular attendant at church and I noticed at class reunions he and Colonel A. M. Davis always signed up to attend chapel exercises. This interest in church affairs was probably one of the reasons for the strong friendship between these two men.) There was a sufficient amount of land attached to the house to require considerable supervision and Sep thoroughly enjoyed attending to these duties. So he lived a happy life for ten years and then the blow fell. He suffered a stroke in the month of May 1943, the effects of which left the entire left side of his body paralyzed. Then began a long and gallant struggle to regain in some measure his health. First in the hospital, and later in a home he purchased near Walter Reed Hospital, the gallant struggle went on. Three trips a week were made to the hospital, all the exercises prescribed by the doctors were faithfully practiced and the struggle continued up to the end. His mind was never affected, he was always glad to see his friends. I never knew him to be despondent, he seemed determined to get well and was always enthusiastic when any improvement, however slight, was noted. But improvement, if any, was very slight, he never walked again. While temporarily alone in his home he fell while attempting to practice walking. Other complications set in and he did not live long after his fall. He died on December 31, 1947.</p>
<p>
In September 1943 Sep was married to Miss Esther Walker. It was a very happy marriage. Mrs. Winans was constantly with him the rest of his life and devoted her entire time to ministering to his wants. It was due to her devoted care that Sep’s last years were so much happier and easier.</p>
<p>
In trying to describe Sep’s character as I saw it, one expression from the Bible came constantly to my mind. “The Pure in Heart.” To me that describes him exactly, he was pure in heart and mind, a distinguished soldier and a Christian gentleman.</p>
<p>
Dear Sep is buried in the beautiful cemetery at West Point, the West Point of which he was at one time the Superintendent and which he loved so well. He has joined the Long Gray Line, and due to his achievements, but more especially to his character, he has taken his rightful place with the select few near the head of the line, for few men more worthy for membership have ever joined, few men more closely followed West Point’s ideals, “Duty, Honor, Country.”</p>
<p>
<em>—R. J. F.</em></p>
<p>
</p>