Followed by 2 soldiers at 25 yards, this officer went out ahead of his first line toward a machinegun nest and worked his way around its flank, leaving the 2 soldiers in front. When he got within 10 yards of the gun it ceased firing, and 4 of the enemy appeared, 3 of whom were shot by 1st Lt. Woodfill. The fourth, an officer, rushed at 1st Lt. Woodfill, who attempted to club the officer with his rifle. After a hand-to-hand struggle, 1st Lt. Woodfill killed the officer with his pistol.
His company thereupon continued to advance, until shortly afterwards another machinegun nest was encountered. Calling on his men to follow, 1st Lt. 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 3 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 machinegun position, killing 5 men in one machinegun pit with his rifle. He then drew his revolver and started to jump into the pit, when 2 other gunners only a few yards away turned their gun on him. Failing to kill them with his revolver, he grabbed a pick lying nearby 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 machinegun fire.
The man was not armed with a tacticool slick & tricked boomstick.
He had a 1903 Springfield. That's a bolt-action rifle for those who need a serious lesson in the ways of killing men. And a revolver. And a pick. And most importantly, his brain and balls.
For those who may be missing the point: If you do not have the courage to go forth and do that which you know how to do, and what must be done, then it won't get done. At least, not by you...
Kerodin
III
This brings home an important point. Some get sooo worried about which rifle and how much ammo or which laser sight to have BUT they forget to make sure that they pack their Kevlar lined guts and Titanium forged balls. A Pick versus a Machine gun, and the PICK WON. Yeah its time to worry less about the rounds we can put down range and start assessing our Testicular Fortitude.
ReplyDeleteK I love that you keep beating on that "Fight To Your Weapon Drum". Keep Up the Good work. Im reminded of stories about the Rebel Yell during The WBTS. How it turned more than one battles tide.
Folks its the intangibles that will win or lose this coming Free For All. Picks, or PitchForkes or Blood Curdling Battle Cries might just be the tipping point
Patrick