b. 05/05/1881 Graysville, Pennsylvania. d. 29/03/1952 San Diego, California.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 17/11/1915 Fort Riviere, Haiti.
Ross L Iams MOH
Haitian Campaign Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps, attached to U.S.S. Connecticut. On November 17, 1915, his Marine detachment was part of a concentrated attack on Caco bandits at Fort Riviere, Haiti. Approaching a breach entrance in the wall to the fort, Sergeant Iams was the first to jump through inside. Despite constant fire from the Cacos, he engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until the bastion was captured. For extreme courage, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He remained in the Marine Corps and retired a Major.
MOH CITATION:
In company with members of the 5th, 13th, and 23d Companies and marine and sailor detachment from the U.S.S. Connecticut, Sgt. Iams participated in the attack on Fort Riviere, Haiti, 17 November 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, Sgt. Iams unhesiatingly 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.
BURIAL LOCATION: FORT ROSECRANS NATIONAL CEMETERY, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.
SECTION P, GRAVE 2930.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
