Evening star., 1921-11-06

+, lures of his mother and his wife.
My two most loved ones" he says.
His wife was Lorena B. Wiltshire,
born in Covington, KY, and a direct
descendant of Daniel Boone. The SER
| geant had known her for four years,
and they had been engaged most of
| that time, but had been postponing
| marriage in order to accumulate
enough money to make the first pay
nent on home Of their own.
| Il felt under the greatest Obliga-
! ton to this little woman, who had
devoted so much time to me, and felt
| that / must make my promise good,'
said Sergt. Woodfil1, describing his
| feelings when the time came for him
to go overseas. Previous to sailing
ne was stationed at Camp Greene. n.
c. and they were married at Fort
Thomas. KY, on December &c, 1917.
Mrs. Woodfill, when she learned of
the distinction that Gen. Pershing had
given her, husband. gave him a per-
sonal decoration of NJ. H. (model hus-
customed, when at home, to help her
with the dishes and do other work
| around the home. Sergt WoodfilI
returns the compliment by describing
MS wife as the most devoted and
! loving Wife. However, he said that
olerS, as; a rule, to marry while in
service. unless they have the neces-
i sary finance. Otherwise, on occasion.
might cause great hardship, he
SAID, thinking of the deprivations that
may be caused the wife rather than
the husband.
At the beginning of the war certain
on-commissioned officers were sent
10 schools and given much the same
framing as reserve officers In this
way Sergt. Woodfill was commis-
stoned second lieutenant, He soon
was promoted to first lieutenant. and
had attracted attention of sunerior
omcers by his sheer ability to train
and handle men. =
x X X
lWH1LE in France Sergt Woodfil1
when questioned, did say that he
would like to receive a commission
He went through preliminary exami-
nation and was recommended for a
commission.
when he had returned to this coun-
try and a second QUESTIONABLE was
sent out. by the War Department
Woodfill replied that he did not care
to be examined. Although there are
plenty of colonels in the American
Army who would be glad to have a
good man like him as captain, he re-
enlisted at his old grade as sergeant
and was placed on the detached en-
listed mems list and assigned to re-
cruiting duty at Fort Thomas, KY,
where he lives with his wife. She is
coming on to witness the honors paid
&, him on Armistice day, but is the only
member of his family who will be
present. The sergeant himself ex-
plains that his brothers and sisters
cannot afford the trip.
In everything Sergt. woodfi1l is abb
solutely modest. He has impressed
the officers at the War Department as
being the best type Of soldier. well
trained. capable of taking care of
himself under any condition and do
ing his duty without talking about it.
He has had twenty-one years of actual
service and thirty years constructive
service on account of his assignments
to the Philippines and Alaska. He
can now retire as sergeant: Senator
Richard p. Ernst of kentucky has,
however, introduced a bill, which is
military affairs. to put Sergt. Wood
fill on the retired list as captain. The
| War Department would not be dis
pleased to see this done. =.
Sergt. Woodfll wears the congress
sional medal of honor, which is the
| nlSnGSL award OK Luc OHlteu OldlcS
government and given only for some
act Of gallantry performed in the
presence Of and against the enemy
! and which is indisputably beyond and
above the call of duty. 1t is never
given for, any act of heroism. no mat
ter how great which is manifestly
the duty Of the soldier. He also wears
the insignia Of a chevalier' of the
Legion Of Honor of France. has the
croix de .guerre with palms, and the
Order of Danilo I (ffth class) Of
| Montenegro. which corresponds with
the chevalier grade in the Legion OF
Honor. He wears the victory medal
with three bars and the Philippine
i and Mexican border ribbons. He has
been~ap expert rifieman since 1897.
He wash member of the infantry rifle
team of the A. e. F. in the interna-
tional competition. held at Lemans
in the summer ofs1919. =
X X X X
4 cERGr. WooDFILL was received
IL by the President on Friday morn