River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1922-01-05


service enttle him to retirement Also the mill
tary authorities have practically picked him out as
the greatest fighting man of the A. E. Il. 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 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
Benbhm had the clerk read paragraph from
General Order No. 16 bearing date of January
%, 1919, and signed by Gen. Peyton c. March,
chief of staff-Lieutenant Woodfls citation ac-
copipanying his award of the Congressional Medal
of Honor.
Benhan also put into the Congressional Record
Woodill's 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 the
armistice 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 frsthand knowledge
Sof Woodilfs efficiency lieutenant in the Bor-
jdeaUx embarkatiOn camp and related how he
turned from receiving the Congressional Medal of
Honor at Chaumont without opening his mouth
about it. Excellent behavior efficiency and mod
Il. The presentation at Chaumont took place on
the quadrangle British G. H. @. on Sunday at 80
before large crowd of American, British. French.
Belgian and italian officers. Headquarters bat
talon acted as guard of honor. Woodfill 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 Mai. Gen. Hanson e. Ely presented TO
him the Croix dc Guerre with palm). Later ne
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 WoodfIl's exploit and his cita-
tions he remained undiscovered as the hero OF
heroess' And Woodfill certainly didn't help along
the discovery. When he went to Louisville with
returning troops in the summer of 1919, real sol
dier and q 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 Woodf held in his bosom.
But Wocdfl didn't tell it. 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 reenlisted at about $S4 a month.
Then came the preparations for the burial of
the unknown soldier at Washington on ARMS
tee day.
The board of army officers, searching the rec
ords for the purpose of selecting soldier from
the infantry TO act as body-bearer for the I'M
known dead picked Sergeant Woodfll When the
name was sent to Pershins the commander of the
A. e. f. exclaimed: "Why, have already picked
that nan as the greatest single hero in the Amer-
can forces"
General Pershing's report on the heroes and sol
oilers in the World contains this mention of
woodflrs Decd given the place of honor over two
cases of distinguished heroism which already have
received Americas recognition:
sDeads of yalor were too numerous TO mention
herr. Outstanding was &he herosm of Lieutenant
samuel Woodfll, Fifth division. in attacking single
handed series Of German machine gun nests near
Cunei ind killing the crews of each In turn until
reduced TO the necessity of assaultng the last de-
,aehment with pick, dispatcEing them all. Ana