Ross Lindsey Iams (April 5, 1881 – March 25, 1952) was a United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor for actions in Haiti on November 17, 1915. Iams served for over 30 years in the Marine Corps, reaching the rank of major. Iams is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Ross Lindsey Iams | |
|---|---|
 Ross L. Iams in his Dress Blue Uniform | |
| Born | April 5, 1881 Graysville, Pennsylvania, US |
| Died | 29 March 1952 (aged 70) San Diego, California, US |
| Buried | Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1901 – 1932, 1942 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | 2nd Marine Regiment |
| Battles / wars | World War I Banana Wars World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Medal of Honor citation
editIams was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions while a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. His citation reads:
In company with members of the Fifth, Thirteenth, Twenty-Third Companies and Marine and sailor detachment from the USS Connecticut, Sergeant Iams participated in the attack on Fort Riviere, Haiti, November 17, 1915. Following a concentrated drive, several different detachments of Marines gradually closed in on the old French bastion fort in an effort to cut off all avenues of retreat for the Caco bandits. Approaching a breach in the wall which was the only entrance to the fort, Sergeant Iams unhesitatingly jumped through the breach despite constant fire from the Cacos and engaged the enemy in a desperate hand-to-hand combat until the bastion was captured and Caco resistance neutralized.
Service time line
edit- January 29, 1901 – enlisted in the Marine Corps
- various brevets as Marine gunner, lieutenant and captain
- June 4, 1920 – permanent appointment as captain, U.S. Marine Corps
- November 1932 – retirement
- January 19, 1942 – returned to active duty as major
See also
edit
References
edit- "Major Ross L. Iams, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
- "Sgt Ross L. Iams, Medal of Honor, 1915 (citation)". Retrieved March 3, 2010. [dead link]
- "Medal of Honor citation for Ross Iams". HomeofHeroes.com. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
External links
edit- "Haiti: US Navy Medal of Honor". Naval History & Heritage Command, Department of the Navy. Archived from the original on July 8, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
- "Medal of Honor recipients". United States Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 2007-09-15. Retrieved 2010-07-22.