Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-11-06
HELL-FOR-CERTAN
BOASTS WARAER0
Bow From Mountains of Kentucky
Rivals Deeds of Ser
geant York.
vOucnfD FOR BY PERsHING
Cleaned Out Three Machine Gun Nests
Which Were Holding Up Line,
Kills "a Germans and Cap
lures Six Guns.

Lexington, Ky,--Hell-for-Ce In
Leslie county, Kentucky. is now laying
lis claim to fame on exploits of Serst.
Willie Sandlin. The citizens of He'll
for 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 Pershlng
himself, who pinned the Congressional
Medal of Honor on his breast.
The official citation of the war de-
partnent is as follows:
"Sergt. Willie Sandlin, Serial NO.
207slO3, Company A, One Hundred and
Thirty-second infantry.
"For conspicuous gallantry and In
trepiiity above and beyond the call or
duty in action with the enemy ut Bots
de FORCES, France. September 26. 1918.
Sergeant Sandlin showed conspicu-
Gus gallantry In action at Bots de For
yes. France, September 20, 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 Sandin enlisted in Jack
son. Breathitt county, April 1G, 1913.
and served out his term Of enlistment,
being In Nogales, Ariz., when dis
charged. On the following day he re.
enlisted.
His discharge shows that he was
awarded the Congressional Medal of
Honor the French Croix de Guerre
and Medal Milltaire for heroic action
September "a. The discharge is dated
May so, 1919, Camp Grant, Ill.
On September 20 his division, the
Prairie, was advancing through the Ar
go'lIe forest, fighting IT'S way step by
step. Sandlin was In command of
pint"on 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
Ii t,xn
stopped and threw a 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-
Melted.
When the line advanced and came
mp 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,
lection from the trees. At the crest of
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
grehades, both making clean hits. and
Agftin 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
T1ih him they advanced over the crest
at ia" hill and down the other slope
toward the Mouse river.
When they had proceeded about 800
yards another nest stopped the line,
which WAS advancing down the slope
toward the river. But 1t did not stop
Sandlin; he kept right on under fire
from the machine guns and the pistols
al the Germans and threw three gre
ni;drs into the nest, killing eight men,
the entire German crew, and capturing
Two uinre machine guns.
Sindlin 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
the skin and the hand bears scars.