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Edwin B. Winans (U.S. Army general)
Encyclopedia
Edwin Baruch Winans was an American general
and graduated in 1891, after which he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Cavalry on June 12, 1891.
and Texas during 1891–97; was a professor of military science and tactics, Michigan Military Academy
, 1897–98; and served with a regiment in the Philippines, 1899–1900. He was with the Punitive Expedition in Mexico
in 1916. During World War I
, Winans commanded the 64th Brigade Infantry, 32d Division, 1st Army Corps, American Expeditionary Force
.
On August 23, 1920, he took command of the Tenth Cavalry at Fort Huachuca
and distinguished himself as a leader able to vastly improve a unit while commanding respect, loyalty, and results. The following year, former Third Army
commander Major General Joseph T. Dickman
, VIII Corps Area Commanding General, commended him for the condition of the Tenth Cavalry, and for the excellent morale and esprit of the regiment.
Colonel Winans was quick to relate the commendation to his troops, saying that the "officers and men are entitled to equal share in the credit, for without their cooperation, such a showing would have been impossible."
In 1927 he was assigned as Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy
. Then he was assigned as commander of the Hawaiian Division. Later, he commanded the 8th Corps Area, Fort Sam Houston
, Texas, until he was assigned the task of reactivation of the Third Army
. Winans assumed command of the Third Army September 15, 1932, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He retired October 31, 1933. After retirement, he served on a League of Nations
commission.
Major General Winans' awards include the Distinguished Service Medal "for exceptionally distinguished and meritorious service" during three major offensives; Legion d'Honneur
and Croix de Guerre
with two palms by the French Government.
He made his home in Vienna, Virginia
. He died on December 31, 1947, and was buried in the cemetery at the U.S. Military Academy
.
Early life
Winans was born in Hamburg, Michigan as the son of the Hon. Edwin B. Winans, Governor of Michigan. He attended the United States Military AcademyUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
and graduated in 1891, after which he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Cavalry on June 12, 1891.
Military service
He served in the Indian TerritoryIndian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
and Texas during 1891–97; was a professor of military science and tactics, Michigan Military Academy
Michigan Military Academy
The Michigan Military Academy, also known as the M.M.A., was an all-boys military prep school in Orchard Lake Village, Oakland County, Michigan. It was founded in 1877 by Captain J. Sumner Rogers, and closed in 1908 due to bankruptcy...
, 1897–98; and served with a regiment in the Philippines, 1899–1900. He was with the Punitive Expedition in Mexico
Pancho Villa Expedition
The Pancho Villa Expedition—officially known in the United States as the Mexican Expedition and sometimes colloquially referred to as the Punitive Expedition—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Mexican insurgent Francisco "Pancho" Villa...
in 1916. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Winans commanded the 64th Brigade Infantry, 32d Division, 1st Army Corps, American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
.
On August 23, 1920, he took command of the Tenth Cavalry at Fort Huachuca
Fort Huachuca
Fort Huachuca is a United States Army installation under the command of the United States Army Installation Management Command. It is located in Cochise County, in southeast Arizona, about north of the border with Mexico. Beginning in 1913, for 20 years the fort was the base for the "Buffalo...
and distinguished himself as a leader able to vastly improve a unit while commanding respect, loyalty, and results. The following year, former Third Army
United States Army Central
United States Army Central is an Army Service Component Command of the United States Army and is also dual-hatted as the "United States Third Army". It is the Army Component of U.S...
commander Major General Joseph T. Dickman
Joseph T. Dickman
Joseph Theodore Dickman was born in Dayton, Ohio. He attended the University of Dayton and graduated in the class of 1871. In 1881 he graduated from the U.S...
, VIII Corps Area Commanding General, commended him for the condition of the Tenth Cavalry, and for the excellent morale and esprit of the regiment.
On the whole, I consider the Tenth Cavalry to be as good, and in some respects better, than the Thirteenth Cavalry, which up to this time, was in the best condition of any regiment I had ever inspected.
Colonel Winans was quick to relate the commendation to his troops, saying that the "officers and men are entitled to equal share in the credit, for without their cooperation, such a showing would have been impossible."
In 1927 he was assigned as Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy
Superintendents of the United States Military Academy
The commanding officer of the United States Military Academy is its Superintendent. This position is roughly equivalent to the chancellor or president of an American civilian university. The officer appointed is by tradition a graduate of the United States Military Academy, commonly known as "West...
. Then he was assigned as commander of the Hawaiian Division. Later, he commanded the 8th Corps Area, Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
, Texas, until he was assigned the task of reactivation of the Third Army
United States Army Central
United States Army Central is an Army Service Component Command of the United States Army and is also dual-hatted as the "United States Third Army". It is the Army Component of U.S...
. Winans assumed command of the Third Army September 15, 1932, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He retired October 31, 1933. After retirement, he served on a League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
commission.
Major General Winans' awards include the Distinguished Service Medal "for exceptionally distinguished and meritorious service" during three major offensives; Legion d'Honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
with two palms by the French Government.
He made his home in Vienna, Virginia
Vienna, Virginia
Vienna is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 15,687. Significantly more people live in zip codes with the Vienna postal addresses bordered approximately by Interstate 66 on the south, Interstate 495 on the east, Route 7 to...
. He died on December 31, 1947, and was buried in the cemetery at the U.S. Military Academy
West Point Cemetery
West Point Cemetery is a historic cemetery on the grounds of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. It overlooks the Hudson River, and served as a burial ground for American Revolutionary War soldiers and early West Point inhabitants long before 1817 when it was officially...
.