Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-01-12


France. Also his 20 years Of active
service entitle him to retirement. Also the mill
tary authorities have practically picked him out as
the greatest fighting man of the A. E. F. So 1t
would seem as if America could do no less than
this for her "hero of heroes"-a Regular" of
the United States army and a 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 peacock because Sergeant Wood
fill enlisted in 1901 from his district-the fourth
Benham had the clerk read a paragraph from
General Order No. 16, bearing date Of January
%, 1919, and signed by Gen. Peyton c. March
chief of staf-Lieutenant Woodfl's citation az.
conpanying his award of the Congressional Medal
of Honor
NBenham also put into the Congressional Record
Woodflls army record In full from his enlistment
in 1901.
Then Woodruff of Michigan who was major
of infantry in France and at one time after tha
armistice, was Woodflls 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 Woodill's efficiency as lieutenant In the Bor-
deaux enbarkation 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 Woodfls makeup
The presentation at Chaumont took place on
the quadrangle British G. H. Q. on Sunday at 80
before a large crowd of American, British French
Belgian and italian officers Headquarters bat
TALON acted as guard Of honor. WOodfll 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 Croix de Guerre. with palm). Later he
was awarded the Legion of Honor and the Order
of Prince Danilo (Montenegro) He also wears
the Victory Medal with three clasps the Philippine
and Mexican border ribbons and an expert rifle
mans medal.
Notwithstanding Woodflls exploit and his cta-
tions he remained undiscovered as 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
dier and 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 Woodfll held in his bosom
But Woodhn didn't tell it. He went quietly about
his work and returned to his command When
he was discharged officer, he kept to the
habit he had followed from his Philippine days.
He re-enllsted at about $s4 a month.
Then came the preparations for the burial Of
the unknown soldier at Washington on Armis-
tice day.
The board of army officers, searching the rec
ords for the purpose Of selecting soldier from
the infantry to act a body-bearer for the un-
known dead, picked Sergeant Woodhll When the
name was sent to Pershing the commander Of the
A. K. F. exclaimed "Why, have already picked
that man as the greatest single hero In the Ameri
-can forces"
General Pershng's report on the heroes and SOL
6iers in the World war contains this mention of
woodfns deed, given the place of honor over two
cases Of distinguished herolsm which already have
received Americas recognition:
"Deeds of vaor were too numerous to mention
here Outstanding the herosm of Lieutenant
Samuel Woodf Fifth division, in attacking single
handed a series of German machine gun nests near
Cunel and killing the crews of each in turn until
reduced to the necessity of assaulting the last de-
tacllment with pick, dispatching them ALL And