Floyd County KyArchives Military Records.....Woodfill, Samuel 
WWI 60th Infantry, 5th Division
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 8, 2007, 10:12 pm

Congressional Medal Of Honor Citation
  Samuel Woodfill, first lieutenant, 60th Infantry, 5th Division. For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in
action with the enemy at Cunel, France, October 12, 1918. While he 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 attenfpted 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 afterwards 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 nest, 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
grabbed a pick lying near by 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 machine-gun fire. Residence at appointment: 197
Alexander Pike, Thomas, Ky.

Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
AND THE
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL
ISSUED BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT
Since April 6, 1917
Up to and including
General Orders, No. 126, War Department, November 11, 1919

COMPILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE ARMY
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1920


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