Samuel Woodfill

United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

Samuel Woodfill (January 6, 1883 – August 10, 1951) was a major in the United States Army.He was a veteran of the Philippine–American War, World War I, and World War II.

Woodfill was one of the most celebrated American soldiers of the early 20th century.General John Pershing called Woodfill the most outstanding soldier in World War I.

During an offensive in October 1918, he single-handedly neutralized three German machine gun emplacements while suffering under the effect of mustard gas, and was able to successfully lead his men safely back to the American lines without casualties.

Woodfill was considered to be one of America's most decorated soldiers in World War I.He received the Medal of Honor (which General Pershing presented on 9 February 1919), the French Légion d'honneur in the degree of Chevalier, the French Croix de guerre with bronze palm, the Montenegrin Order of Prince Danilo I in the degree of Knight and the Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra among other awards.

So legendary was Woodfill's renown, that almost 11 years after the war ended, a Polish Army delegation presented him two medals.

The presentation occurred during the 11th Annual National Convention of the American Legion held in Louisville, Kentucky from 30 September - 3 October 1929.

After returning home at the end of the war, Woodfill took a number of different jobs before starting a career as an insurance salesman.

He was among the three soldiers chosen to dedicate the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1921, joining fellow Medal of Honor recipients Charles Whittlesey and Alvin York.

At the outbreak of World War II, he was commissioned as a major and spent two years training recruits before resigning from the army after the death of his wife in 1943.

Woodfill retired to a farm near Vevay, Indiana where he lived until his death.He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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