training focused on offensive and defensive trench warfare, including trench construction, grenade throwing, bayonet fighting, gas mask drill, weapons firing at land targets and airplanes and artillery and infantry-artillery demonstrations. The Fifth Marines embarked for France and arrived to Saint-Nazaire in early July of that year and spent the rest of the year with training with the French elite mountain infantry, Chasseurs Alpins, near Gondecourt in northern France. Among the members of his company were several future Marine generals including Robert Blake, LeRoy P. Hunt, Leonard E. Rea and Amor L. Sims. In mid-March 1918, Sims and his battalion were ordered to the frontline trenches in the Toulon Sector, just southeast of Verdun. It was a relatively quiet period and they spent their time with the repairing of existing trenches and dugouts, digging new trenches, and stringing and repairing barbed wire entanglements. The 5th Marines departed Toulon Sector in mid-May 1918 and after brief period of training at the Gizors training area, they were finally ordered to the frontline north of Marne River near Château-Thierry on June 2. Winans commanded his company during the battle of Belleau Wood and distinguished himself during the assault on Hill 1942, for which he was decorated with Silver Star citation. He was shot through the foot on June 14, 1918, during German counterattack, but refused to be evacuated until the enemy was repulsed and until he had made a personal inspection of the line and found it secure. Refusing assistance, he proceeded to the rear across the shell-swept fields behind Belleau Wood to the evacuation station, thereby aggravating the injury to his foot. Winans received his second Silver Star citation for this act of bravery. Winans later rejoined his battalion and participated in the fighting in the Argonne Forest during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and received French Croix de guerre with Guilt Star. Following the Armistice, he marched with his regiment to the Rhineland and participated in the occupation duties in Coblenz. Interwar period Upon his return stateside in September 1919, Winans retained the rank of Captain and assumed command of the Marine Detachment of receiving ship at Philadelphia Navy Yard. His main duty was to maintain order on the ship, which served as barracks for troops returning from overseas. He was ordered to the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico in September 1922 and entered the Field officers' course in order to improve his officer's education.