October 12, 1918

He fought his own small war in the middle of a big one.

89 years ago today First Lieutenant Sam Woodfill's company met heavy resistance from German machine gun emplacements in the Argonne.

Woodfill went forward with an '03 Springfield and the nerve and skill to use it. He broke the enemy position by the skillful use of ground, cover, and rifle marksmanship.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Woodfill

http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/woodfill.htm

Cudos to Alvin C. York. He deserved the attention he received. But Woodfill's feat of arms is very similar to York's, yet hardly remembered.