of honor for valor in the service. His discharge said nothing at all about it being an honorable discharge, but was merely a discharge. Mr. GLENN. A discharge without honor?

Mr. FAUST. Yes. Mr. Goldin never knew but what he was honorably discharged until about three years ago, when he applied for a place in the service as a caretaker for a national cemetery. On looking upon his record, they found that he had been discharged under these circumstances, which prohibited his being appointed.

I introduced a bill for him at the last Congress, but it died with the session. It never was considered.

He is now about 67 years old, living at the present time in a Masonic home. He has no property. He is dependent. He is in pretty fair physical shape and if he could have his record straightened out, he would be amply able to take care of one of these places as guard or caretaker in a national cemetery, and support himself.

His object is not primarily a pension. He has not applied for a pension during all these years, but he is extremely anxious to have his record straightened out, so that it may appear that his service was honorable and that his discharge also was honorable.

He is a very high class old gentleman, a man of considerable attainments, although a rolling stone. He has never gotten anywhere, but he did serve and served valiantly.

Mr. GLYNN. I think that we have already reported favorably on the general bill, have we not?

Mr. REECE. That relates only to the late war.

Mr. GLYNN. I mean the general bill for World War veterans.
Mr. FAUST. This war was the Indian war.

Mr. GLYNN. I think, as you state the case, it is one of those bills I would not hesitate to report on favorably.

Mr. FAUST. There are no thorns on it at all. I am sure the proof is sufficient to convince you.

Mr. REECE. Most of these bills are worded a little differently, in somewhat broader terms than this one, to the effect that the person named in the bill shall have conferred upon him rights, benefits, etc., as are conferred upon honorably discharged soldiers who have been held honorably discharged.

Mr. FAUST. I wish you would amend it, then, to conform to the usual custom. The old man has no wife and no dependents.

Mr. VINSON. It occurs to me that we ought to take all these cases up in executive session.

Mr. REECE. I think that you are right about that.

Mr. FAUST. I ask, then, that if you do consider it favorably, you change the language to conform with your usual phraseology. Mr. REECE. Yes.

We will take up H. R. 641, which is a bill to authorize the President of the United States to appoint Samuel Woodfill to the position and rank of captain in the Army of the United States and immediately retire him with the rank and pay of a captain. Congressman Canfield of Indiana is here and wishes to make a statement.

STATEMENT OF HON. HARRY C. CANFIELD, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA

Mr. CANFIELD. Gentlemen, this bill was introduced in the last session of Congress by Congressman Cook. It so happened that at that time I was away and Senator Ralston's attention had been called to these facts. He called on Congressman Cook and Congressman Cook introduced the bill. He apologized a couple of days later, after I got back, saying that it should have been introduced by me, but that did not make any difference. The bill failed to be reported out of the committee last session, so that I reintroduced the bill at this session.

While the facts that I can give you now are no more than I gave at the last session, I will go over a few of them here, just to give you an idea of what they are. Of course, at the time this happened, it was fresh in your minds. It was carried in headlines in all the newspapers.

No doubt the members of the committee remember that when the unknown American soldier was buried the first of the list of those chosen to represent the War Department in these ceremonies was Sergt. Samuel Woodfill, who was officially rated by General Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, as first in the list of the many heroes in the World War.

Seargent Woodfill enlisted from the district which I have the honor to represent, the fourth Indiana, in 1901, and although but a little past 38 years of age is accredited with 30 years and 5 months of service. Nine of his 21 years of active service were spent abroad for which he was given double credit.

The following is a part of General Order No. 16 bearing date of January 22, 1919, signed by Gen. P. C. March, Chief of Staff, and Adjt. Gen. P. C. Harris:

Samuel Woodfill, first lieutenant, Sixtieth Infantry. 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 towards 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 Lieutenant Woodfill. The fourth, an officer, rushed at Lieutenant Woodfill, who attempted to club the officer with his rifle. After a hand-to-hand struggle Lieutenant Woodfill killed the officer with his pistol. His company thereupon continued to advance until shortly afterwards another machine gun nest was encountered. Calling his men to follow, Lieutenant 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 the two other gunners only a few yards away from him 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.

I also have here a copy of his official service record which I would like to have inserted in the record.

Mr. REECE. That may be inserted.

87213-26- -2

(The document referred to is as follows:)

The following is the official service record of Sergeant Woodfill:

Casual detachment, Eleventh Infantry (discharged as private):

Served from March 8, 1901, to February 26, 1904. Served in Philippines from May 13, 1901, to January 15, 1904.

Straight time, 2 years 11 months 19 days.

Double time, 2 years 8 months 2 days.
Character: Excellent.

Remarks: Service honest and faithful.

Lieut. Col. S. C. Woodbury commanding, Second Lieut. E. H. Tarbutton commanding detachment.

Company G, Third Infantry (discharged as private):

Served from May 25, 1904, to June 30, 1906.

1904, to June 30, 1906.

Straight time, 2 years 1 month 5 days.

Double time, 1 year 11 months 23 days.

Character: Excellent.

Remarks: Service honest and faithful.

Served in Alaska from July 7,

Maj. E. H. Plummer commanding, Capt. Russell C. Langdon commanding

company.

Company B, Tenth Infantry (discharged as corporal):

Served from July 1, 1906, to February 6, 1908. Served in Alaska from
July 1, 1906, to February 6, 1908.

Straight time, 1 year 7 months 5 days.
Double time, 1 year 7 months 5 days.
Character: Excellent; a model soldier.

Remarks: A steady and reliable noncommissioned officer.

Capt. L. D. Breckinridge commanding, Capt. L. D. Breckinridge commanding company.

Company K, Sixteenth Infantry (discharged as lance corporal):

Served from February 7, 1908, to February 6, 1911. Served in Alaska from February 7, 1908, to February 6, 1911.

Straight time, 3 years.

Double time, 3 years.

Character: Excellent; a model soldier.

Remarks: "Service honest and faithful; no unauthorized absence."

Capt. E. D. Warfield commanding, Capt. E. D. Warfield commanding detachment.

Company A, Ninth Infantry (discharged as sergeant):

Served from February 7, 1911, to February 6, 1914; served in Alaska from February 7, 1911, to July 8, 1912.

Straight time, 3 years.

Double time, 1 year 5 months 1 day.

Character: Excellent.

Remarks: No unauthorized absence on record.

Col. C. J. Crane commanding, Capt. L. E. Hanson commanding company. Company A, Ninth Infantry (discharged as sergeant):

Served from February 7, 1914, to July 11, 1917.

Straight time, 3 years 5 months 4 days.

Character: Excellent.

Remarks: No A. W. O. L.; no absence.

Colonel Cannon commanding, Lieut. F. L. Whitley commanding company. Commissioned service (discharged as captain):

Served from July 12, 1917, to October 31, 1919.

Straight time, 2 years 3 months 19 days.

Remarks: Termination of emergency.

Medals awarded: Congressional Medal of Honor; Chevelier de Legion of Honor (French); Croix de Guerre with palm (French); Croix de Danilo (Montenegran).

Maj. Gen. David C. Shanks commanding, Maj. Max W. Sullivan commanding company.

Thirtieth Recruit Company, G. S. I. (discharged as sergeant):

Served from November 24, 1919, to November 23, 1920.

Straight time, 1 year.

Character: Excellent.

Remarks: Service honest and faithful; a born soldier and an excellent man. Col. Peter E. Traub commanding, Capt. Charles Eamel commanding company.

Total active service at date of enlistment, 19 years 4 months 21 days.
Eligible for retirement after 30 years' service November 2, 1920.
Eligible for retirement at 40 per cent pay July 3, 1921.

Mr. CANFIELD. The total active service of Sergeant Woodfill at the date of enlistment was 19 years, 4 months 21 days. Eligible for retirement (30 years' service), November 2, 1920.

Eligible for retirement (at 40 per cent pay), July 3, 1921.

Gentlemen, it seems to me, we should acknowledge service of this kind. I understand we have two men who distingusihed themselves in France, and while I am very much interested in this soldier who enlisted from the district which I have the honor to represent, he now lives in the State of Kentucky. I have here the statements made on the floor of the House a few days ago about the gallantry of the men who saved the lives of others on the sea. It seems to me that men, like this man, should receive consideration by this Congress. Mr. VINSON. Mr. Canfield, with your permission, I should like to have inserted in the record a portion of the speech made by Congressman Woodruff, of Michigan, on November 4, 1921. Mr. Woodruff at one time was the commanding officer of Captain Woodfill, who was retired as a sergeant, and I think that it would be very proper to have this as a part of this hearing.

Mr. REECE. I think so. It will be inserted at this point.

Mr. WOODRUFF. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, it is a matter of great regret to me that I could not have been Lieutenant Woodfill's commanding officer when he earned the distinction that was accorded him in the general order just read to the House. My association with the now Sergeant (then Lieutenant) Woodfill, came after the signing of the armistice.

Within a few days after the signing of the armistice I was sent to the Bordeaux embarkation camp for duty along with some 160 other officers. I was assigned to certain duties, among them, being commanding officer of the different casuals coming through the camp. We divided those casuals into eight companies. They were coming in and leaving constantly, coming into the camp, having their records straightened out, getting their physical examinations, being properly equipped, and then being sent to the United States. One of the commanding officers of one of these companies was the then Lieutentant Woodfill. served under me there for five or six weeks, and I want to say that in that work he showed the same efficiency, and the same devotion to duty, that he showed in the Argonne. [Applause.]

He

The duties of the camp were somewhat onerous. We were compelled to work from early morning until late at night, and sometimes all night, getting the men through the camp and on their way home, and I found amongst the officers with whom I worked one of the most willing, one of the most earnest, one of the most efficient officers I had under me was Lieutenant Woodfill. [Applause.] He was a man of becoming modesty. He was with us for four or five weeks or possibly six weeks, and no one amongst us ever had the slightest idea that he had during the war done anything out of the ordinary. By no word or act of his did he attempt to call the attention of his comrades to anything that had been done by himself. [Applause.] One day he walked into my office and said, "Captain, I have got to go to Chaumont." I said, "All right, Lieutenant. How long will you be gone?" He said, "Three or four days.' He went to Chaumont and came back again. A week or 10 days after his return to the camp I happened to see General Order 16, which cited the lieutenant in the way you have just heard, and learned for the first time Lieutenant Woodfill had been ordered to Chaumont to receive the congressional medal, the highest American decoration. And up to that time no member of the camp had known why Lieutenant Woodfill was called to Chaumont. So I said to the lieutenant, not letting him know I had seen the general order, "Lieutenant, have you seen any action in this war?" He said, "Yes." I said, Have you killed anybody?" Yes," he returned. "How many have you killed," I asked? "I only know of 19," he said. [Applause.] I said, "How long were you in action?" His answer was, "About two hours." [Laughter.] And really, gentlemen, the way the lieutenant said that to me led me to believe that he felt he really should have done better than that. [Laughter.]

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When I read in the paper the other day that Lieutenant (now Sergeant) Woodfill, was here, I read the article with pleasure and regret. Pleasure, for I knew I would be afforded an opportunity to meet my old comrade again, and to renew the acquaintance that we made over there. I knew that he had been granted the great distinction of being the first man to be named as pallbearer to the unknown soldier to be buried at Arlington within a few days. I was pleased with that; but it was with regret that I learned that the then Lieutenant Woodfill and later Captain Woodfill was now a mere sergeant in the Army. I want to notify the House to-day that it is my intention within a few days to introduce a bill which give to Sergeant Woodfill the rank that he earned on the battle fields of France. [Applause.]

After Judge Cook had mentioned this matter to me, and after I found that this man was from my district, information was brought to us that he had already been given quite a good deal by individuals, so I wrote to his wife, who had been doing the corresponding, as follows:

"It has been reported to the committee that the bill introduced by Mr. Cook in behalf of your husband that some organization or some one has already paid off the mortgage on his home, made him a present of $10,000 and paid-up insurance policy for $2,500."

In reply to that Mrs. Woodfill wrote me from New Befdord, Mass., as follows: "Your letter of February 26 has just reached me to-day, due to the fact that our itinerary was changed and your letter was sent ahead. I thank you for your promptness and interest in this case and will answer your questions at once. "I desire to say that a small part of your information is correct, but the larger part is not. The mortgage on our home was lifted and an insurance policy was also purchased, but the $10,000 in reality is only $4,400. The parties responsible for assisting us in the hour of distress were Mr. Edward F. Albee and his coworkers of the Keith theatrical circuit. They placed the story before the citizens of New York City, who donated to the fund which was raised. Those good people felt that a great injustice had been done my husband and were glad to show that they appreciated valor and service even if the Federal Government did not.

"So you see that we are not the 'millionaires' some would have you believe. We have the larger part of the $4,400, but why any of the information given you should bear on the committee, who hold this bill, is beyond my comprehension, as the Government can not take credit for what individual citizens did or expect that act to pay its debt to its outstanding hero.

"Many States have paid their soldiers a bonus, but that does not release the Federal Government from its obligations, so why should the same rule not prevail in this case?

I hope you will be successful in placing the facts before the committee as they really are and removing the exaggerated figures from their minds. I feel when they understand conditions as they are, they will not hesitate to recommend its passage.

Mr. GLYNN. I remember meeting Sergeant Woodfill and having an interesting talk with him. He was in the gallery at the time of this speech and stood up and bowed when he was applauded.

Mr. REECE. Mr. Woodfill held the rank of captain for a period during the war?

Mr. CANFIELD. Yes, sir.

Mr. GLYNN. He is out of the service now?

Mr. CANFIELD. Yes.

Mr. JOHNSON. He was reduced to the rank of sergeant.

Mr. VINSON. He was discharged as a sergeant.

Mr. JOHNSON. What was the reason for that?

Mr. VINSON. He was a Regular Army man and in the reduction of numbers of both our commissioned officers and enlisted men, his length of service as a commissioned man was such that he was dropped to the rank of sergeant.

Mr. REECE. Mr. Canfield, if you want to elaborate on your statement and add anything to what you have said, we shall be glad to have you do that.