Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-09-10
Bow From Mountains of Kentucky
Rivals. Deeds of Ser
geant York.
VOUCHED FOR BY PERSHING
Cleaned Out Three Machine Gun Nests
Which Were Holding Up Line,
Kills "a Germans and Cap
lures Six Guns. ..kl

LtAluSlOL, hy.--I1ciI-lOI tuiht Az
Leslie county, Kentucky, is now laying
its claim to fame on exploits of Sergt.
Willie Sandlin. The citizens of He'll
for-C Certain have read with pride the
official army citation of heroic deeds OF
the boy who was reared on their creek
and was their neighbor until he Joined
the army in 1913.
The exploits of this mountain boy
are vouched for by General Pershing
himself, who pinned the Congressional
Medal of Honor on his breast.
The official citation of the war de-
partment is as follows:
"Sergt. Willie Sandlin, Serial No.
207S103, Company A, One Hundred and
Thirty-second infantry.
For conspicuous gallantry and in
trepidity above and beyond the call of
duty in action with the enemy at Bots
de FORCES, France, September 26, 1918.
Sergeant Sandlin showed conspicu-
Gus gallantry in action at Bots de For
ges, France, September 26, by advanc-
ing alone directly on machine gun
nest which was holding up the line
with its fire. He killed the crew with
a grenade and enabled the line to adj
vance. Later in the day Sergeant
Sandlin attacked alone and put out Of
action two other machine gun nests,
setting a splendid example Of bravery
and GOODNESS to his men,"
Given Other Honors.
Sergeant Sandlin enlisted in jack
son, Breathitt county, April 16, 1913,
and served out his term of enlistment,
being in Nogales, Ariz., when dis
charged. On the following day lie re-
enlisted.
His discharge shows that he was
awarded the Congressional Medal of
Honor, the French Croix de Guerre
and Medal Militaire for heroic action
September "a. The discharge is dated
May 30, 1919, Camp Grant, Ill.
On September 20 his division, the
Prairie, was advancing through the Arr
come forest, fighting its way step by
step. Sandlin Nas in command of a
platoon of 81 men when the advance
started.
The line had been fighting for hours,
advancing slowly, when they were sud-
denly held up by machine gun nest
about $50 yards in front. Sandlin
charged up the slope at the machine
gun nest, with bullets from the ma
chine guns and automatic pistols of the
Germans whistling by him. He was 100
yards in front of his men when he
stopped and threw grenade at the
nest. This fell short and he ran for
ward and threw two more grenades
into the midst of the Germans.
He then charged the nest with his
bayonet and found five dead men and
three men still living. These he bayo-
netted.
When the line advanced and came
up with him he rejoined his platoon
and borrowed four more grenades. The
line then advanced again, going up the
slope of the hill with very little pro-
the hill another machine gun nest halt
ed the line, but Sandlin kept right on
going. When he was within 20 yards
of the machine gun nest he threw two
grenades, both making clean hits, and
again charged with his bayonet. This
time he found four dead and three
wounded Germans, and he bayonetted
the latter. Two machine guns were
captured.
Destroys Third Nest.
After the line had again come up
with him they advanced over the crest
Of the hill and down the other slope
toward the Mouse river.
When they had proceeded about SOC
yards another nest stopped the line,
which was advancing down the slope
toward the river. But II did not stop
Sandlin; he kept right on under fire
from the machine guns and the pistols
of the Germans and threw three gre
nades into the nest, killing eight men,
the entire German crew, and capturing
two more machine guns.
Sandlin had thus far killed "a men
by himself while his companions were
taking cover and captured six machine
guns.
Later In the day he was slightly
wounded by shrapnel on his right hand
and forehead. A small piece of shrap.
mel Is still In his forehead just under
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