
The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
WOODFILL, SAMUEL
Rank and Organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army,
60th Infantry, 5th Division. Place and Date: At Cunel, France, 12 October 1918. Entered
Service At: Bryantsburg, Ind. Birth: Jefferson County, Ind. G. O. No.:
16, W.D., 1919.
Citation:
While he was leading his company against the enemy, his line came under heavy machinegun
fire, which threatened to hold up the advance. Followed by 2 soldiers at 25 yards, this
officer went out ahead of his first line toward a machinegun nest and worked his way
around its flank, leaving the 2 soldiers in front. When he got within 10 yards of the gun
it ceased firing, and 4 of the enemy appeared, 3 of whom were shot by 1st Lt. Woodfill.
The fourth, an officer, rushed at 1st Lt. Woodfill, who attempted to club the officer with
his rifle. After a hand-to-hand struggle, 1st Lt. Woodfill killed the officer with his
pistol. His company thereupon continued to advance, until shortly afterwards another
machinegun nest was encountered. Calling on his men to follow, 1st Lt. Woodfill rushed
ahead of his line in the face of heavy fire from the nest, and when several of the enemy
appeared above the nest he shot them, capturing 3 other members of the crew and silencing
the gun. A few minutes later this officer for the third time demonstrated conspicuous
daring by charging another machinegun position, killing 5 men in one machinegun pit with
his rifle. He then drew his revolver and started to jump into the pit, when 2 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 the
exceptional courage displayed by this officer, his men pressed on to their objective under
severe shell and machinegun fire.
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