The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1922-01-20

service entltle him to retirement. Also the mill.
tary authorities have practically picked him out as
the greatest fighting man of the A. l.. f. So II
would seem as II America could do no less than
this for her hero OF heroes"--a Regular" of
the United States army and professional soldier
Anyway. Senator Richard l.. Ernst of Kentucky
has introduced such bill In the senate And
Representative Roy o. Woodruff of Michigan has
done the same In the house.
Representative John r. Benham Of Indiana
started the movement In the house You see, he
was proud as "a peacock because Sergeant Wood.
I'LL enlisted In 1901 from his dlstrict-the fourth
benham had the clerk read paragraph from
General Order No. 10, bearing date OF Januarv
~. 1919 and signed by Gen. Peyton c. March.
chief OF staff-Leutenant woodnn's citation ac
companylng his award OF the Congressional Medal
Of Honor.
Benham also put into the Congressional Record
woodhii's army record In full from his enlistment
IN 1901.
Then Woodruff OF Michigan who wns n m. u.
OF infantry In France and at one time after the
armistlce. was Woodhlls commanding officer wns
given the floor. As preliminary to giving notice
that he would introduce the bill mentioned In
the foregoing. he set forth his rst-hand knowledge
OF Woodhirs efficiency as a lieutenant In the Bor.
deaux embarkation camp and related how he re-
turned from receiving the Congressional Medal of
Honor mt Chnumont without opening his mouth
about II. Excellent" behavior efficiency and mod.
esty bulk large In woodfs makeup.
Inc presentation NJ Cnnumont took place
the quadrangle British q. H. q. on Sunday at 80
before u large crowd of American British French.
belgian md Italian officers. Headquarters bat.
TALON acted AS guard OF honor. Woodhll received
other awards In addition 10 the Congressional
Medal az Honor. lie received the Legion Of Honor
at the hands of the high admiral Of the French
navy and Maj, Gen Hanson H. Ely presented tn
him the Crolx de Gucrre with palml Later he
awarded the Legion Of Honor and the Order
of Prince Danilo tMontenegrol, He also wears
the Victory Medal with three clasps the Philippine
and Mexican border ribbons and mn expert rifle
mans medal
Notwithstanding woodfurs exploit and his clta.
lions he remained undiscovered rs the "hero of
heroes" And woodhll certainly didn't help along
the discovery. When he went to Louisville with
returning troops In the summer Of 1919 n real sol.
dler and real hero at last after all the event.
fu years that had passed since he enlisted there
In 1901. there were thousands hungry for such
tale of the that woodhll held In his bosom.
But woodnu didn't tell II. lie went quietly abou,
hls work and returned 20 his command. When
he was discharged officer, he kept TO the
habit he had followed from his Philippine days
lie re-enllsted at about $s4 n month.
Then came the preparations for the burial OF
the "uuknown soldier at Washington on Armls
uce day
The board of army officers, searching the rec
or,s for The purpose OF selecting II soldier from
the infantry to act ms body bearer for the un.
known dead. picked Sergeant woodhll. When tho
name wns sent to Pershiug. the commander OF tl,.
A. T. r. exclaimed; why. have already picked
that man as the greatest single hero In the Ameri.
can forces"
General Pershing's report on the heroes and sol.
oilers la the World contains this mention OF
woodfll's deed. given the place OF honor over two
cases of dlstin guished heroism which already have
received Americas recognition:
Deeds OF yaior were too numerous 10 mention
here Outstanding the herolsm ot Lleutenan
samuel Woodan Firih division In attacking single
handed n series OF German machine gun nests nea
,nnel and killing the crews of each In turn unit
reduced to the necessity Of assauting the last de
.achment with a pick dispat chlng them all. An,