Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 215, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1919 — Hell-For-Certain Boasts War Hero [ARTICLE]

Hell-For-Certain Boasts War Hero

Boy From Mountains of Kentucky Rivals Deeds of Sergeant York. VOUCHED FOR BY PERSHING Cleaned Out Three Machine Gun Nests Which Were Hotding Up t-ine, Kills 24 Germans and Cap* : - tures Six Guns. Lexington. Ky.—-Hell-for-Certain, In Leslie county. Kmitucky, is nnwlaying; its claim to fame on exploits of Sergt. Willie Sandlin. The citizens of Hell-for-Gerta in have read with.jjri<le -the official army citation of heroic deedtrof the boy who reared on their creek »nd was their neighbor until he joined the army IqMftS. ? . - The exploits of this mountain boy ire vouched for by General Pershing himself, who plum'd the Congressional Medal of Honor on his breast. The official citation of the war department is as follows: "Sergt. Willie Sandlin, Serial No. 2078103. Company A, One Hundred and —thirty-second infantry; "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Bois de Forges, France, September 26, 1918. “Sergeant Sandlin showed consplcuimjs gallantry in action at Bois de Forges, France. September 26. by advancing alone directly on a machine gun nest which was holding up the line with its fire. He killed the erew with a grenade-awl-vnnbltsl t> |fl llnt> to wfc rance. Later in the day Sergeant " Sandlin attacked alone and put out of action two other machine gun nests, setting a splendid example of bravery and coolness to his men.” Given Other Honors. Sergeant Sandlin enlisted in Jackson, Breathitt county, April 16, 1913. and served out his term of enlistment, being in Nogales, Ariz.. when discharged. On the following day he reenlisted. discharge he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the French Croix de Guerre and Medal Militaire for heroic action September 24. The discharge is dated 1919, Camp <lrani—lLL On September 26 his division, the Prairie, was advancing through the Argonne forest, fighting its way step by step. Sandlin was in command of a platoon of 57 men when the advancestarted. The line had been fighting for hours, advancing slowly, when they were suddenly held up I y a machine gun nest about 150 yardx—in —front; —Sandlin charged up the slope at the machine gun nest, with—bullets from the machine guns and automatic pistols of the Germans whistling by him. He was 100 yards in front of his men-, when he stopped and threw a grenade at the nest. This fell short and he ran for-

ward and threw two more grenades into the midst of the Germans. He then charged the nest with his bayonet and found five dead men and three men still living. These he bayonet t»*<l. When the line advanced and came up with him he rejoined his platoon and borrowed four more grenades. The line then advanced again, going up the slope of the hill with very little proteet ion fioni the trees. At the crpst of the hill another machine gun nest halted! lie line, but Sandlin kept right on going, When he was- within.2o yards of the machine gun nest he threw two grenatjes, both making clean hits, and, again charged with his bayonet. This time he found four dead and three wounded Germans, and he bayonetted the -latter. Two machine guns were captured. Destroys Third Nest. After the line had again come up with him they advanced over the crest of the hill umd down the other slope toward the Heuse river. When they had proceeded about 500 yards another nest stopped the line, which was advancing down the slope toward the river. But it did not stop Sandlin; he kept right on under fire from the machine guns and the pistols of the Germans and threw three grenades into the nest, killing eight men.

the entire German crew, and capturing two more machine guns, Sandlin had thus far killed 24 men by himself while his companions were taking cover and captured six machine guns. -- Later in the day he was slightly wounded by shrapnel on his right hand and forehead. A small piece of shrapnel is still in his forehead just under the skin and the hand bears scars.