On the morning of October 12, 1918, Samuel Woodfill (60th infantry, 5th ID) and his company were in the Argonne Forest as part of a large offensive with the orders to advance towars the German lines. As they moved forward, machine gun fire broke out from German held positions targeting Woodfill and his men. While the other men took cover, Woodfill quickly advanced on the machine gun emplacement, killing 3 German soldiers in the process. Moments later, a German officer rushed him and engaged him in hand-to-hand combat, but Woodfill gained the advantage and killed him with his pistol.
With the threat removed, Woodfill signaled for his company to advance when a second machine gun opened fire. Woodfill quickly overran the position and captured 3 Germans. His men again resumed their advance only to have a third machine gun open fire. Woodfill ran under fire and jumped into the enemy position, killing 5 Germans with his rifle and seizing a nearby pick axe and clubbing two other soldiers to death...all this with a shrapnel wound and while under the effects of Mustard Gas that had become heavy in the area.
As the gas symptoms worsened, Woodfill ordered his men to withdraw to the allied battle line. None of his men died in the fierce fighting, but several, including Woodfill, were hospitalized in Bordeaux after their retreat. Woodfill saw no more action for the remainder of the war.
His heroics earned him a number of decorations, to include the Medal of Honor and the highest medals for bravery from France, Italy, Montenegro and more. So legendary was Woodfill's renown, that almost 11 years after the war ended, a Polish Army delegation presented him two more medals.
General John Pershing called Woodfill the most outstanding soldier in World War I. #badass #ww1 #zerofoxtrot #stayzero