The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-12-05
Sergeant WoodfiII Placed Ahead
of Alvin York by Pershing.
SORRY HE COULDN'T DO MORE
He Attacked Almost SingIe-Handed Se-
ries of German Machine Gun Nests,
Killed the Crews, Using an lntrench-
ing Pick to Stay the Last of Them
Honored by Congress, France and
Montenegro - After Armistice He
Re-enters Army as Enlisted Man.

Sergeant Samuel Woodfill, United
States army, is declared by General
Pershing to be the greatest of the
American heroes of the World war.
The sergeant's home is at Belleview
Ind, where his brother and sisters
still live.
Woodfill was lieutenant and cap
tain, but such are the fortunes of war
that he is back again in the ranks.
Sergeant Woodfill has been in the
army twenty years. He was a non
commissioned officer when the United
States entered the World war. After
the armistice he re-entered the regular
army as an enlisted man.
He had attacked almost single-hand-
ed a series of German machine gun
nests, had killed the crews, killing the
last of them with an intrenching pick.
When interviewed by newspaper
men he said of his deeds: my only
regret is that l could not have done
more"
Pershing Doesn't Share Regret
This regret was not shared by the
commanding general of the army.
General Pershing placed this man
ahead of Sergt. Alvin York, who stood
off and captured 49, Germans.
The statement by General Pershing
was based on the citation, as a result
of which Woodfill, then a lieutenant,
received a commission Temporary as
captain, the congressional medal of
honor. the croix de guerre with palm,
was made a chevalier OF the Legion
OF Honor, and received from Monte
negro the Order of Prince Danilo (fifth
class.
But here is Woedfills citation
For conspicuous gallantry and in
above and beyond the call
Of duty in action with the enemy at
Cunel, France, October II, 1918. While
ne was leading his company against
The enemy his line came under heavy
machine gun fire, which threatened to
lold up the advance.
Followed by two soldiers at 25
yards. this officer went out ahead Of
IFS first line toward a machine gun
lest and worked his way around its
lank, leaving two soldiers in front.
when he got within ten yards Of I
he gun it ceased firing, and four of |
he enemy appeared, three of whom |
we're shot by Lieutenant Woodfill
Fights German Officer
''The fourth officer rushed at Lieu !:
enant Woodfill, who attempted to !:
lub the officer with his rifle After u !;
and-to-hand struggle Lieutenant I:
Voodfill killed the officer with his pis-
OIL. His company thereupon continued
o advance until shortly afterwards
mother machine gun nest was encoun-
cred
calling on his men to follow, Lieu
anant Woodfill rushed ahead of his
ne in the face of heavy fire from the
est.
"a few minutes later this officer
Or the third time demonstrated con-
picuous daring by charging another
lachine gun position, killing five men
| one machine gun pit with his rifle
-e then drew his revolver and started
, jump into the pit when two other
lnners only a few yards away turned
leir gun on him.
Failing to kill them with his re-
'lver, he grabbed pick lying near
? and killed both of them. Inspired
7 the exceptional courage displayed
Z this officer, his men pressed on to
cir objective under severe shell and
achine gun fire."