Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-01-05

france. .. Also MS ~ years OF active
service entHle him to retirement. Also the mill
tary authorities have practically picked him out as
the greatest fighting man of the A. E. It., So it
would seem as if 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 p Ernst Of Kentucky
has introduced such a bill in the senate And
Representative Roy o. Woodruff of Michigan has
done the same in the house.
Representative John S. Benham Of Indiana
started the movement in the house You see, he
was proud as a peacock because Sergeant Wood
fill enlisted in 1901 from his district-the fourth
Benham had the clerk read a paragraph from
General Order No 1G, bearing date Of January
-, 1919, and signed by Gen. Peyton c. March
chief of Staff-Iieutenant WoodfLTs citation ac
Companying his award Of the Congressional Medal
of Honor. d.. .'...t. t...
Benham also put into the Congressional Record
Woodfll's army record In full from his enlistment
in 1901
Then Woodruff Of Michigan who was q major
Of infantry in France and at one time after the
armstice was Woodfls commanding officer was
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 WOodflls efficiency as a lieutenant in the Bor-
deauX embarkaton camp and related how he re-
turned from receiving the Congressional Medal of
Honor at Chaumont without opening his mouth
about it, Excellent behavior efficiency and mod
esty bulk large in WOOdfs makeup
The presentation at Ghaumpnt took place on
the quadrangle British G.: H. @. on Sunday at 3 80
before large crowd Of American, British, French,
Belgian and Italian officers. Headquarters bat
talon acted as guard Of honor. Woodhll received
other awards in addition to The Congressional
Medal Of Honor He received the Legion of Honor
at the hands Of the high admiral of the French
navy and Maj Gen.. Hanson e. Ely presented to
him the CrQix de Guerre. with palm). Later he
was awarded the Legion Of Honor and the Order
Of PRINCE Danilo I (Montenegro). He also wears
the Victory Medal with three clasps, the Philippine
and Mexican border ribbons and an expert rifle
mans medal.
Notwithstanding Woodfilrs exploit and his clta-
lions he remained undiscovered the hero of
heroes" And Woodfll certainly didn't help along
the discovery When he went to Louisville with
returning troops in the summer of 1919 real sol
der and "a real hero at last after all the event
full years that had passed since he enlisted there
in 1901 there were thousands hungry for such
tale of the war that Woodfl held in his bosom.
But WoOdfill didn't tell 1t. He went quietly about
his work and returned to his command. When
he was discharged as an officer, he kept to the
habit he had followed from his Philippine days.
He re-ensted at about $S4 month.
Then came the preparations for the burial Of
the unknown soldier at Washington on Armis-
| tiCe day y
The board OF army officers, searching the rec
ords for the purpose Of selecting soldier from
the infantry to act as a bodybearer for the lun-l
| known dead, picked Sergeant Woodhl When the
| name was sent to Pershing the commander of the
| A. f. L. exclaimed: "Why have already picked
that man as the greatest single hero in the Ameri-
| can forces" ,,.
| General Pershmgs report on the heroes and sol
| ;,, tl,, nrlh ror "a i'm %
Woodhls deed, given the place of honor over two
cases Of distinguished herosm which already have
| received Americas recognition:
Deeds Of valor were too numerous to mention
here Outstanding was the herosm Of Lieutenant
sayral Woodhll Fifth division, In attacking single
1spdat, series of German machine gun nests near
,;urH are, killing the crews Of each In turn until
reduced to ;he necessity Of assaultng the last de-
tachment with pick dlspatching them ALL And