Evening star., 1921-11-06
CERGT. SAMUEL WOODFlLL of Indi-
- ana, Designated by Gen. Pershing as
the Leader Among Heroes of the American
Expeditionary Forces, Has Led Life Of
Adventure-His Early Training in Hitting
the Bull's-eye-Taught to Shoot When He
Was Seven Years Of Age-His Enlistment
In the Army.

distinguished service cross and prob
l. ably the medal of honor, but he was
not thinking of these decorations. He
was simply concerned with doing his
duty no matter how far it might lead
him. So he continued to press for
ward and bumped into a third ma
chine gun in the underbrush. Again
he stopped his men and went forward
alone. He killed the five men of the
crew and by that time was in the
der to get some sort of cover, jumped
I'down into the trench where the gun
was located. Two Germans had a
machine gun nearby. but not in
position to turn it upon him. One of
these reached for his rife and the
other pulled his Luger pistol. Wood
fill had his pistol and shot the Ger
man in the thigh just as he fired his
pistol. Then he aimed at the other
German and found to his dismay that
his pistol was empty and that in the
language of the soldier he was IS.
o. L."
X x x
'OUICK action was required. The
x American saw a pick lying near,
and nailed the German. Looking
around, he saw the other German he
had shot reaching to recover his pis-
pick. This made his nineteenth vic
tim that day.
Then Woodfill went back and report
ed that he had met the German line
of resistance. For this outstanding
heroiSm, he was promoted to cap
tain of infantry and received several
decorations. But on the way back he
was severely wounded in the right
shoulder and confined for some time
to the hospital.
The exceeding modesty Of Sergt.
Woodfl is illustrated in a story told
by Representative Roy o. Woodruff
of Michigan. Woodruff was captain
and personnel adjutant at Bordeaux
| and as such was in charge of all the
casual companies.
Woodfl was first lieutenant of
one of these companies and one day
went to Capt. Woodruff, saying: I've
got to go to Chaumont." not giving
or four days and then resumed his
duties. About ten days later the
printed order came across Capt.
Woodruff's desk, and that was the
first that any one at Bordeaux knew
that Woodfll had been called to
medal of honor.
The citation accompanying the
congressional medal of honor award
cd him is as follows:
For conspicuous gallantry and in
trepidity above and beyond the call
of duty in action with the enemy at
Cunel, France, October IL, 1918.
While he was leading his company
against the enemy his line came
under heavy machine gun fire, which
Followed by two soldiers at twenty
five yards, this officer went out ahead
of his first line toward a machine gun
nest and worked his way around its
flag, leaving two soldiers in front.
When he got within ten yards of the
enemy appeared. three of whom were
shot by Lieut.. Woodfill. The fourth,
an officer, rushed at Lieut.. Woodfll,
who attempted to club the officer
with his pistol. After a hand
struggle he killed the officer with
his pistol. His company thereupon
continued to advance until, shortly
afterward. another machine gun nest
was encountered. Calling on his men
to follow, Lieut. Woodfn rushed
fire from the nest, and when several
of the enemy appeared above the nest
he shot them, capturing three other
members of the crew and silencing
the gun. A few minutes later this
officer for the third time demonstrat-
another machine gun position and
killing five men in a machine gun
pit with his rifle. He then drew his
revolver and started to jump into the
pit when two other gunners turned
them with his revolver, he grabbed a
pick lying near by and killed both
Of them. Inspired by the exceptional
courage displayed by this officer, his
men pressed on to their object under
severe shell and machine gun fire."
X X X
IH7HEN the casuals at Bordeaux
" learned of the great honor that
had come to their modest comrade
they gave him a big party. and that
was the only public recognition of his
valorous deed until Gen. Pershing
made his name famous throughout the
entire nation.
Serg. Woodfill is a soldier born and