Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-03
ONCE 4 CAPTAIN, SERGEANT
MAY REGAIN COVETED BARS
Congress Is Be Asked Restore Rank OF Samuel
Woodfll. Who Won His Spurs at ST. Mihie
and the Mcusc. Argonnc.

, machine gun nests. one after the
other.
; II was this exploit which led Cen
| eral PerShing, in the report he will
| submit ~ the War Department., to
mention WoodflI first among three
heroes he named.
with my company Of ITO men 1
was sent 10 feel out the enemy
! strength and make Il general recon
! Nuisance" Woodnll said, explaining
! his feat. The going in the Argonnc
was bad. Trees were scattered about
in profusion. heavy shrubbery. de-
prcssions in tse ground: in general,
fine place for defense and bad
place for attack.
we knew the Germans were all
around, bu: where? was the question.
We soon found out. Machine guns and
rifles suffered and cracked. some OF
my men fell before we could take
cover. gave my orders and then
pitched in. The big game hunting
instinct came back.
II slid alona the ground on my
stomach, worininG my way inch by
inch until got TO vantage point
Then 1 Just shot down the Germans Mt
close range. used a rifle and re-
voiNcT. At one point advanced with
Two men toward machine gun nest
l left the two boys in front while
worked around to tho flank. 1 was
within about ten yards Of the outfit
when the German crew. three privatcs
and an officer. suddenly popped up.
They made rush at me and / shot
down the priva;cs and then the Of
ficer was at me. l tried Ia club him
with my rifle. hut he seized me and
we struggled around for quite a while
before got out my pistol and killed
him.
II WAX Hot Work.
II went ahead OF my line when
We bumped into the other nests. It
was no use wasting lives. / figured
one man or Il few men could get bet
ter results. And it worked out that
way because my knowledge OF wood
craft and hunting made il possible
Tor mo To get near the nests without
being seen.
1T was hot work. but never
thought or tho danger Il bit during
the entire scrap. ! didn't have time
II was just a case OF kill or get
killed and was lucky enough 10 do
the killing.
Il might have hung up Il higher
record than the nineteen ii a niece of
shrapnei hadn't hit me in tho thigh,
1t was not much OF a wound. but they
sent mo tn the rear"
IL was after this that Woudiiu has
elevated To Il caDtaincy. ana received
the Congressional Medal Of Honor. the
French Legion oi Honor with palms.
AMI the CroiN dc Danil OF Montenegro.
He had gone to France as a lieu
tenant.
Woodilirs reduction is explained In
the records in the terse words.
emergency ended"
In the Array Twenty Yeur,.
That meant he was an enlisted man
again. lie applied TO take the ex-
animation FOR a commission, but his
enlistment expired meantime. and he
| never was examined. But nc rr.en-
4 listed.
| He had been In the army twenty.
years. and he went back to il. his
| service Includes all pnrts al this
| country. Alaska and the Islands. His
| oischarSes, 4, various enlistment pc
ri"uS all read-"character excellent;
service honest and faithful"
Woodiil was entitled to retirmcrn
| last year. under the thirty-vcar rule.
| because Of double time acnuire,i
through foreign service. Next year
| ne can retire on 40 per cent of a ser
seantS pay. lie is IS years old
Woodhll married year bcforo l..
went t" France. OFFICERS We're ;ol. in -
nm about stories from Madison. Ind
Ms nom" town" that he washes
dishes for his wife.
io"Ii cause trouble for al! mar.
rsen men" said Captain Coulter.
but | do wash Dishes" Wood6I,
admitted With n blush.
| copyright 1921. by United News,
t.p