New-York tribune., 1921-11-01
Ar1nistice Day
Hero Named by
Gen. Pershin.e
Sergeant Samuel Woodfll
Captured Three Machine
Guns, Killing 10 Ger
mans, Taking 3 Prisoners
Used Pick as a Weapon
Indiana Soldier Promoted
and Decorated for Valor
i'm Meuse-Argonne Drive

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31.--Examina
tion of war records by General Per
shing has resulted in the designation
of Sergeant Samuel Woodtill as the
American infantryman who through
heroism in the World War is most en-
titled to represent the infantry branch
of the army at the Armistice Day cere.
monies for Americas unknown dead.
Sergeant Woodfill, whose home is
given in army records as Be1leyiew, Ind.
but who now is stationed at Fort
Thomas, Kentucky, arrived in Wash
ington to-day in response to orders
from the War Department, and on be.
ing received by Secretary Weeks was
informed his act of heroism was re
garded by his former commander as
"outstanding" among the exploits OF
all the infantry officers and men who
saw service in France.
Killed Nineteen Germans
The act of Sergeant Woodfill which
caused General Pershing to place hin,
"a virtually unknown herewith Ser.
geant Alvin c. York, of the Tennessee
mountains, and Major Charles s
Whlttlesey, of the "Lost Battalion" oc-
CURED October II, 1918, during the
IMeuse-Argonne offensive, when he as q
lieutenant silenced three machine guns
killing nineteen of the enemy. includino
one officer, and capturing three others
portion of the final report soon tc
be submitted by General Pershing as
commander of the American Expedition
airy Forces to Secretary Weeks, made
public to-day, has the following 10 saw
of Sergeant Woodfill:
DEEDS OF valor were too numerous ia
mention here. Outstanding was the
heroism of Lieutenant Samuel Woodfll
9th Division, in attacking single handed
series of German machine gun nests
near Cunel and killing the crews of each
In turn until reduced to the necess. ty
of assaulting the last detachment with
q pick, dispatching them all. And OF
Division, in standing off and CAPTURING
1872 Germans after his patrol was liter.
ally surrounded and outnumbered ten
to one, and Major Charles S. Whittlesey
and his men of the 77th Division, when
theirs battalion was cut off in the Ar.
gonne, in refusing to surrender and
holding out until finally relieved
Doubtless many died in performing
deeds of unknown heroism and no sur.
vivor remained to testify"
Story Told in Citation
The story of Sergeant Woodfilrs ex.
plot was said by army officers to be
told most concisely in the citation
which accompanied the award to him
Of the Congressional Medal of Honor
This citation read:
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 ma
chine gun fire, which threatened to
hold up the advance. Followed by two
soldiers at twenty-five yards, this Of
ficer went out ahead Of his first line
toward machine gun nest and worked
his way around its flank, leaving two
soldiers in front. When he got within
ten yards of the gun it ceased firing
and four of the enemy appeared. three
of whom were shot by Lieutenant
(coatinued en- page thrce)