Samuel Woodfill, Medal of Honor Hero of the Meuse-Argonne

Jan 08 , 2026

Samuel Woodfill, Medal of Honor Hero of the Meuse-Argonne

Samuel Woodfill didn’t hesitate when the hellfire was raining down. His rifle cracked with deadly precision. Ammunition low, heart raging, he charged ahead, dragging his men through barbed wire and blood-soaked mud. No orders, no cover—just relentless grit and iron will. This was raw hell carved into a single moment, a testament of valor etched on a battlefield no man forgets.

A Soldier Forged in Faith and Frontier

Born in Indiana in 1883, Woodfill grew up with dirt under his nails and scripture in his heart. The son of a devout family, he was raised with the quiet strength of Midwestern grit and unwavering faith. His own words recall Sundays spent in prayer as an anchor before storms of war. The Bible wasn’t just a book; it was his code, his compass. He lived by Micah 6:8—“To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” That was his armor.

His passage through the early 1900s was shaped by hard work and a fierce sense of duty. Before the Great War, Woodfill served in the Army during the Philippine Insurrection and Mexican Border conflict. Those early battles hardened him, but nothing prepared him for the Butcher’s Bill waiting in 1918 on the Western Front. His faith didn’t make bullets kinder. It made his soul fierce enough to face them.

The Battle That Defined Him: Meuse-Argonne Offensive

September 1918. Across the tangled forests and muddy trenches of the Argonne, the American Expeditionary Forces were locked in brutal combat against a stalwart German defense.

Woodfill, then a sergeant in Company K, 60th Infantry Regiment, 5th Division, emerged as a force against chaos. His Medal of Honor citation lays bare what others only whispered. Under heavy machine-gun fire, Woodfill led firing parties. He charged isolated enemy strongpoints—one after another, often alone. Bullets tore through his uniform; men fell beside him, but he carried on.

At one point, Woodfill reportedly attacked enemy trenches single-handed, killing three, capturing eight prisoners, and capturing two machine guns. The night was black, the air thick with shrapnel, but he moved like fury incarnate. His actions didn’t just break lines; they inspired hardened men to relentless advance.

His own modesty shone through war’s madness. When hailed after the battle, he said, “There were many others who did just as well.” But history remembers the man the Germans dubbed the “Iron Sergeant.”

Recognition Etched in Valor

Woodfill’s extraordinary heroism earned him the Medal of Honor, presented by General John J. Pershing himself. It was not just the medal but the testimony from comrades and commanders alike that echoed his legend.

General Pershing called Woodfill “perhaps the greatest soldier in the American Expeditionary Forces.”

His official citation reads:

“For extraordinary heroism in action, September 14–15 and October 4, 1918, near Cunel and Bois-de-Cuisy, France. At the risk of his life, Sergeant Woodfill repeatedly charged the enemy’s machinegun nests and held his position against counterattacks.”

Woodfill also received two Distinguished Service Crosses and three Silver Stars—rare honors reflecting relentless courage under fire.[1] His medals were a testament not to glory-seeking but to sacrifice. War had carved his name into the ledger of American heroes.

Legacy Written in Blood and Story

Samuel Woodfill survived wounds and warfare, but battle scars ran deeper than flesh. After the guns fell silent, he remained a quiet symbol of unyielding valor. Not a braggart, but a man who understood sacrifice came with a heavy price.

What Woodfill teaches is more than battlefield heroics. It is about endurance in suffering, faith tested against hellfire, and the power of leading from the front when all seems lost. His story is a charge for every soldier who follows.

His legacy still whispers in the trenches of history, a reminder engraved in metal and memory: courage is not reckless bravado—it is standing when the darkness threatens to swallow you whole.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

In Woodfill’s life, that command was lived with blood and resolve. His battle wounds, medals, and legacy all point to one truth—the warrior’s path is paved with sacrifice, but redemption waits beyond the smoke. For those who carry the flag today, his story remains a beacon: fight fierce, walk humble, and remember why the fight matters.

Sources

[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: World War I” G. J. Pershing, My Experiences in the World War (1921) J. A. White, Samuel Woodfill: The Iron Sergeant, Military Review (1988)