Evening star., 1924-08-10
KENTUCKY CLAIMS
MOST MODEST HERO
Willie Sandlin Found Fighting
Much Easier Than Fac
ing Admirers.
Spesial Dispatch to The Star.

LEXINGTON, Ky, August 9.-Ken-
lucky has the most modest hero of
the world war.
She also has the "hereoest hero" of
the same war in the self-same indi-
vidual, and her claim to this distinc-
tion is attested by Gen. Pershing and
Marshal Foch.
The hero halls from a section Of
Kentucky noted for fighters, and it's
very name is enough to throw a man
size scare into a timid chap.
Kentucky's star hero is Sergt.
Willie Sandlin, from DeviPs Jump
Branch, He'll -fer-Sartin Creek, Leslie
County, and he looks the part, with a
wiry frame, determined jaw and keen
eye, fearless as a fighter, but eX-
tremely shy at all attempts to exploit
his deeds.
Willie-not nickname, but full
fledged monicker-was induced to
come to Lexington for the Fourth OF
of Hugh Mckee Post, No. 677, Vet
Grams of Foreign Wars, and was in
troduced by r. E. Lee Murphy, State
commander.
Lost One War Medal.
Mr. Murphy had considerable diff
Guilty in introducing the modest hero,
as Sergt- Sandlin had long since the
war misplaced his citations and lost
one of his medals, bestowed by for
eign government. However, he still
had the Congressional Medal of
Honor-hiS own country's highest
France and Croix de Guerre with
palm, Italian War Cross and decora-
ton from Montenegro.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars
elected him to membership in that
organization for 20 years without
that his membership would be re-
newed at the expiration of that time
IF he lived longer than 20 years on
the SO a month allowed him by the
Veterans Bureau for the support of
his wife, two children and himself"
In September Hugh Mckee Post will
take him to Atlantic City to attend
the national encampment, If he can
be induced to forsake his beloved
Kentucky hills for few days and
the national convention of foreign
wars veterans.
Story of One Big Day.
Here is the story as it happened in
one day:
The general advance was on. Six
divisions were participating. Sandlin
was in command of platoon.
advance was checked by a hot fire
from a machine gun nest. An order
to halt and lie down came along the
line. Sandlin's men heard it and
obeyed. Sandiin did not. He ad-
vanced directly on the machine gun
nest, and at 80 yards threw a grenade
Three others followed, and he then
jumped into the pit. Three of the
eight men were alive and gave battle
Sandlin killed all of them with his
bayonet.
The line came up and Sandlin re-
sumed command of his men. Half an
hour later machine gun fire again
caused the order to halt. Sandlin did
not He rushed this nest as he had
the other, employing the same tactics
This time, when his grenades were
all spent, there were four men still
defending the nest. Another single
handed battle-and they were all
dead, except Sandlin, when the line
came up.
Two Germans Give Fight.
The third nest encountered was not
reached until 2 o'clock. Just as be-
fore, Sandlin advanced upon 1t. His
grenades in this instance wounded
every man in the pit. but he had to
dispatch two who still gave fight, as
well as the others whose wounds had
not proved Immediately fatal
Later that day Sergt. Sandlin par
ticipated in taking the strong point,
which was German battalion head
quarters. Many were in at this af-
fair, and there was no Individual
credit given.
To finish out the day Sandlin cap
tured hospital group and killed the
lieutenant with the latter's own gun,
which he wrested from him in hand
to-hand fight. This pistol, Luger, he
has as a souvenir.
He enlisted from Breathitt county
the only county in the United States
where 1t was not necessary to draft
men. He was gaSSed and wounded
twice, once between the eyes with a
grenade and once in the right leg
with ShrapneL
Loves the Mountains.
Willie Sandlin loves the mountains
of Ken tUcky. His Fourth of July
speech in Lexington, quoted almost
verbatim, proves it:
81 am glad TO be here. 1 thank you
for your hospitality. When I was on
the fields Of France my heart was in
the hills of Kentucky. I will now
step aside and let you hear the real
speakers"