BIO: WOODFILL, Capt. Samuel, Campbell Co., KY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributed for use in US GenWeb Archives by the Kentucky Biography Project Date: Wednesday, July 10, 2002 Subject: BIO: WOODFILL, Capt. Samuel, Campbell Co., KY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ******************************************************************************* USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net. ******************************************************************************* The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Frankfort, Ky. May, 1920, Vol. 18, No. 53. "Above and Byond the Call of Duty", by Fred P. Caldwell, State Historian for Kentucky Council of Defense, Louisville,Ky. pp. 11-12. Campbell County. CAPT. SAMUEL WOODFILL [photo]. Of distinguished deeds and acts of great valor performed by American soldiers during the World War [I], there is no one which stands out more conspicuously than that of Capt. Samuel Woodfill, of Ft. Thomas, Ky. His ancestors were revolutionary soldiers and members of the Rogers and Clarke expedition. Capt. Woodfill has spent all of his adult life in the army, serving in the Far West, Alaska, and the Philippines, upon the Mexican border and in Europe. Six feet in height, weighing about 210 pounds, he is straight as an arrow, muscular and active. His steel grey eyes, which are as bright and piercing as an eagle's, radiate decision and force. When General Pershing was requested, in the summer of 1919, to name 100 men of the United States Army whose acts of gallantry were typical of the fighting spirit of the American forces, he selected Capt. Woodfill as one of that number. Capt. Woodfill has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Cross of the Legion of Honor, the Croix de Guerre, and other medals. In addition to these evidences of his intrepidity in action, he has many citations from his superior regimental officers, of which the following is a fair sample: "The character of the service in France of Capt. Samuel Woodfill has been most extraordinary and sterling in its nature. During the Meuse-Argonne offense he personally captured several machine guns and killed about nineteen Germans - this while commanding his company. Frank B. Hawkins, Colonel 60th Infantry." It was while he was First Lieutenant of Co. M, 60th Infantry, 5th Division, and in the Meuse-Argone offensive, on Oct. 12, 1918, that Lieut. (now Capt.) Woodfill so signally distinguished himself. The story of the splendid fight for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor is so graphically told in the official citation, that it would be useless to attempt to add to that document, which is as follows: "By direction of the President under the provisions of the act of Congress, approved July 9, 1918, the Medal of Honor has been awarded, in the name of the Congress, to the following named officer for the act of gallantry set after his name. Following is Gen. Pershing's cabled recommendations, which has been approved: "First Lieut. Samuel Woodfill, 60th Infantry. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Cunel, France, October 12, 1918. While Lieut. Woodfill was leading his company against the enemy his line came under heavy machine gun fire, which threatened to hold up the advance. Followed by two soldiers at 25 yards, this officer went out ahead of his first line toward a machine gun nest and worked his way around its flank, leaving the two soldiers in front. When he got within 10 yards of the gun it ceased firing and four of the enemy appeared, three of whom were shot by Lieut. Woodfill. The fourth, an officer, rushed at Lieut. Woodfill, who attempted to club the officer with his rifle. After a hand-to-hand struggle, Lieut. Woodfill killed the officer with his pistol. His company thereupon continued to advance until shortly afterward another machine gun nest was encountered. Calling on his men to follow, Lieut. Woodfill rushed ahead of his line in the face of heavy fire from the next, and when several of the enemy appeared above the nest, he shot them, capturing three 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 machine gun position, killing five men in one machine gun 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 exceptional courage displayed by this officer, his men pressed on their objective under severe shell and machine gun fire. Home adress, Mrs. Samuel Woodfill, 167 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky.'" U. S. Official Bulletin, Feb. 13, 1919. Capt. Woodfill came through this thrilling experience unharmed, except that he suffered a slight shrapnel wound, and was gassed. The records of Capt. Woodfill and Sergeant Sandlin are an inspiration. The stores of their brave deeds thrill us with gratitude and admiration. The high honors won by them are a fitting reward for conspicuous gallantary "above and beyond the call of duty." We are proud to claim them as Kentuckians. *******************************************************************************