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BORN:
January 06, 1883 at Jefferson County, IN
Entered Service in the US
Army from Bryantsburg, IN
Earned
The Medal of Honor During World War I For heroism on October
12, 1918 at Cunel, France
DIED:
August 10, 1951 at the age of 68
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First
Lieutenant Woodfill's line came under heavy machinegun fire,
which threatened to hold up the advance. Followed by two
soldiers at 25 yards, he went ahead of his first line toward a
machinegun nest and worked his way around its flank, leaving the
two soldiers in front. When he got within ten yards of the gun
it ceased firing, and four of the enemy appeared, three of whom
he shot. The fourth, an officer, rushed at Lieutenant Woodfill.
After a hand-to-hand struggle, Lieutenant Woodfill killed the
officer with his pistol. His company then continued to advance
until another machinegun nest was encountered. Calling on his
men to follow, Lieutenant Woodfill rushed ahead of his line and,
when several of the enemy appeared above the nest, he shot them,
capturing three others and silencing the gun. A few minutes
later for the third time he charged another machinegun position,
killing five men in one pit with his rifle. He then drew his
revolver and started to jump into the pit, when two other
gunners only a few yards away turned their gun on him. Failing
to kill them with his revolver, he grabbed a pick lying nearby
and killed both of them. Inspired by Lieutenant Woodfill's
intrepid actions, his men pressed on to their objective.
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