The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1922-01-28


service entitle him to retirement. Also the mill
tary authorities have practically picked him out
the greatest fighting man of the A. E. F. So it
would seem 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 a peacock because Sergeant Wood
fill enlisted III 1901 from his district-the fourth
Benham had the clerk read q paragraph from
General Order No 16 bearing date of January
%, 1919, and signed by Gen Peyton c. March
chief of staff-Lieutenant WoOdfus citation ac
complaining his award of the Congressional Medal
of Honor.
Benham also put into the Congressional Record
WoodflPs 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 Woodfs commanding officer. was
given the floor. As a preliminary to giving notice
that he would introduce the bin mentioned in
the foregoing he set forth his first hand knowledge
OF Woodflls efficiency as lieutenant in the Bor
',tieaux 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 Woodfilfs makeup
The presentation at Chaumont took place on
the quadrangle British G. H. O. Oh Sunday at 3 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 ard 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 Woodfill's exploit and his cita-
tons he remained undiscovered as the "hero OF
heroes" And Woodfill certainly didn't help along
the discovery When he went to Louisville with
returning troops in the summer of 1919 a real SOL
,iier 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 Woodf held in his bosom.
But Woodin 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-enlisted at about $84 a month.
Then came the preparations for the burial of
the unknown soldier" at Washington on ARMS
sice day.
The board of army officers, searching the rec
ords for the purpose of selecting soldier from
the infantry to act as bodybearer for the un-
known dead picked Sergeant Woodfl When the
name was sent to Pershing the commander of the
A. E. 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
ojers in the World war contains this mention of
Wood6ll's deed given the place of honor over two
cases of distinguished heroism which already have
received Americas recognition:
: speeds of valor were too numerous to mention
here Outstanding the herosm of Lieutenant
samuel Wcodfli Fifth division. in attacking single
handed a series of German machine gun nests near
T,nnel and killing the crews of each in turn until
reduced to the necessity of assaultlng the last de
taehment with a tsck, dispatchng them all And