Evening journal., 1921-11-01
HOOSIER HERO
WAR'SGREATEST
Virtually Unknown Soldier
Silences 3 Machine Guns,
Killing 19 Germans
AT ARLINGTON
ON ARMISTICE DAY

WASHINGTON. Nov. l. Exam
ination Of war records by General
Pershing has resulted in the desig-
nation of Sergeant Samuel Woodfill
as the American infantryman who,
through heroism in the World War.
is most entitled to represent the in
fantry branch Of the army at the
Armistice Day ceremonies for Amer
icas unknown soldier.
Sergeant Woodfll. whose home is
given in army records as Bellevue.
Indiana. but who now Is stationed
at Fort Thomas. KY. arrived in
Washington in response to or
ders from the War Department.
and on being received by Secretary
Weeks, was informed his act OF
heroism was regarded by his former
commander as Outstanding" among
the exploits OF all the infantry Off
GERS and men who saw service in
France.
The act Of Sergeant woodhn.
which caused General Pershing to
place him-a virtually unknown
hero-foremost with Sergeant Alvin
c York, OF the Tennessee mountains.
and Major Charles S Whittlesey, OF
the "lost battalion" occurred Oc-
tober u, 1918. during the Meuse-
Argonne offensive when he. as a
lieutenant. silenced three machine
guns. killing nineteen OF the enemy,
including one officer, and capturing
three others.
The story OF Sergeant. Woodhll's
exploit was said by army officers to
be told most concisely in the cita-
ton which accompanied the award
to him OF the Congressional Medal
OF Honor This citation read:
For conspicuous gallantry and in
trepidlty 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 threatened |
to hold up the advance. 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 flank,
leaving the two soldiers in front. |
When he got within ten yards of |
the gun IL ceased firing. and -four |
of the enemy appeared three Of 1
whom were shot by Lieutenant |
Woodhll. The fourth. an officer, |
rushed at Lieutenant Woodhn. who
attempted to club the officer with
his rifle After a hand-to-hand strug-
gle. Lieutenant Woodfill killed the
officer with his pistol. His company
thereupon continued to advance un-
til shortly afterwards another ma
chine gun nest was encountered.
"Caning on his men to follow
Lieutenant Woodhll rushed ahead Of
his line in the face OF heavy 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 demon
strated conspicuous daring by charg-
ing another machine gun position.
killing five men in one machine gun
pit with his rife. He then drew
his revolver and started to jump into
the pit when two other gunners.
only a few yards away. turned their
gun on him.
Failing TO kili them with his re-
volver. ne grabbed a pick lying near
and killed both Of them. Inspired
by the exceptional courage display
ed BY this officer. his men pressed
on 70 their objective under severe
shell and machine gun FIRE"
FOR this act OF hcroism Woodhn
was promoted 10 a captaincy and.
IN addition 70 the Congressional
Media. was awarded the Legion Of
Eonor fCavaiier) and the Croix do
Guerre with paiml BY France. and
the order o. Prince Daniio I Cffth
risss) ~ Montenegro.