Alvin York

Alvin Cullum York
December 13 1887(1887-12-13) – September 2 1964 (aged 76)
Sergeant Alvin York
Nickname	"Sergeant York"
Place of birth	Pall Mall, Tennessee
Place of death	Nashville, Tennessee
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	corporal (at the time of Medal of Honor action), sergeant (at end of war), Colonel (Tennessee State Guard WW II rank)
Unit	82nd Infantry Division
Commands held	7th Regiment, Tennessee State Guard
Battles/wars	World War I *Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Awards	Medal of Honor French Legion of Honor French Croix de Guerre Italian Croce di Guerra Montenegro War medal

Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887 – September 2, 1964) was a United States soldier, famous as a World War I hero. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 32 machine guns, killing 28 German soldiers and capturing 132 others during the U.S.-led Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France.

York kept a diary of his years just before the war and all during the war that became a movie script and became a classic Christian testimony of the struggle to follow God and to still obey the commandment "thou shalt not kill."

In October 2006 a group called the Sergeant York Discovery Expedition discovered the site where York made his heroic stand. Nineteen rusted Colt .45 cartridges buried in northeastern France along with 250 German machine gun casings, and other artifacts were found at the site in the Argonne forest near France's border with Belgium.

On October 4, 2008 more than 600 Soldiers, family members, American Boy Scouts, and history enthusiasts from around the world joined with residents of Chatel-Chéhéry village and the French military to honor York with the official dedication of two monuments marking the site where he earned his decorations for valor.

Early years

Claim of Appeal to being drafted for World War I for Alvin Cullum York.

Alvin Cullum York was born to an impoverished farming family in Tennessee on December 13, 1887, the third of eleven children. When Alvin’s father died in 1911, he rejected his Christian upbringing and became a hard drinker. His mother, a member of a pacifist Christian denomination, tried to convince York to change his ways. Then during a night of heavy drinking when he and a friend got into a fight with other saloon patrons, York's friend was killed. The event shook York and after attending a revival meeting on January 1, 1915 he became a devout Christian.

When York received a notice to register for the draft on June 5, 1917, at the age of 29, it created a moral dilemma for him that he documented in a diary he kept. While a devout Christian he was also a patriot who believed that God ordained governments as instruments to be obeyed. York wrote of his dilemma;

"I wanted to follow both (the Bible and the U.S.). But I couldn’t. I wanted to do what was right…If I went away to war and fought and killed, according to the reading of my Bible, I weren’t a good Christian."

York applied for Conscientious objector status, but his request was refused.

World War I 1917–1918

York enlisted in the United States Army and served in Company G, 328th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division at Camp Gordon, Georgia. Discussion of the Biblical stance on war with his company commander, Captain Edward Courtney Bullock Danforth (1894–1974) of Augusta, Georgia and his Battalion Commander, Major Gonzalo Edward Buxton (1880–1949) of Providence, Rhode Island, eventually convinced York that warfare could be justified.

For every verse the commanders used to support their position on warfare, York countered. Finally, one night, Captain Danforth read Ezekiel 33:6:

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.

With this, York stood up and said, "All right, I'm satisfied."

Heroic actions

During a mission to secure the German Decauville rail-line on October 8, 1918, York's actions earned him the Medal of Honor. He recalled:

"The Germans got us, and they got us right smart. They just stopped us dead in our tracks. Their machine guns were up there on the heights overlooking us and well hidden, and we couldn’t tell for certain where the terrible heavy fire was coming from… And I'm telling you they were shooting straight. Our boys just went down like the long grass before the mowing machine at home. Our attack just faded out… And there we were, lying down, about halfway across [the valley] and those German machine guns and big shells getting us hard."

Seventeen men under the command of Sergeant Bernard Early (which included York) infiltrated behind the German lines to take out the machine guns. The group worked their way behind the Germans and overran the headquarters of a German unit, capturing a large group of German soldiers who were preparing to counter-attack against the U.S. troops. Early’s men were contending with the prisoners when machine gun fire suddenly peppered the area, killing six Americans and wounding three others. The fire came from German machine guns on the ridge, which turned their weapons on the U.S. soldiers. The loss of the nine put Corporal York in charge of the seven remaining U.S. soldiers. As his men remained under cover, and guarding the prisoners, York worked his way into position to silence the German machine guns.

York recalled:

"And those machine guns were spitting fire and cutting down the undergrowth all around me something awful. And the Germans were yelling orders. You never heard such a racket in all of your life. I didn't have time to dodge behind a tree or dive into the brush… As soon as the machine guns opened fire on me, I began to exchange shots with them. There were over thirty of them in continuous action, and all I could do was touch the Germans off just as fast as I could. I was sharp shooting… All the time I kept yelling at them to come down. I didn't want to kill any more than I had to. But it was they or I. And I was giving them the best I had."

York at the hill where his actions earned him the Medal of Honor three months after the end of World War I on February 7, 1919

One of York’s prisoners, German first lieutenant Paul Jürgen Vollmer of 1st Battalion, 120th Württemberg Landwehr Regiment[1], emptied his pistol trying to kill York while he was contending with the machine guns. Failing to injure York, and seeing his mounting losses, he offered to surrender the unit to York. By the end of the engagement, York and his seven men marched 132 German prisoners back to the American lines. His actions silenced the German machine guns and were responsible for enabling the 328th Infantry Regiment to renew the offensive to capture the Decauville Railroad.

York was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism, but this was upgraded to the Medal of Honor, which was presented to York by the commanding general of the American Expeditionary Force, General John J. Pershing. The French Republic awarded him the Croix de Guerre and Legion of Honor. Italy and Montenegro awarded him the Croce di Guerra and War Medal, respectively.

York was a corporal during the action. His promotion to sergeant was part of the honor for his valor. Of his deeds York said to his division commander, General Duncan, in 1919: "A higher power than man power guided and watched over me and told me what to do."

Post-war life

York after World War I

York was singled out as the greatest individual soldier of the war and when he returned home in 1919 he was wooed by Hollywood, Broadway, and various advertisers who wanted his endorsement of their products.

York was taken aback by the New York City parade he prevailed upon Tennessee Congressman and future Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, to facilitate a hasty return to his home. Once back in Tennessee the Rotary Club of Nashville in conjunction with other Tennessee clubs wanted to present York with a home and a farm. Unfortunately not enough money was raised and they gave him an unfinished home and saddled him with a healthy mortgage to boot.

On June 7, 1919, York married Gracie Williams. They had 7 children, all of whom were named after famous American historical figures.^{[citation needed]}

Although York is best known for earning the Medal of Honor, he wanted to be remembered for what he did after he returned from war, York's grandson, retired Army Col. Gerald York said. York, who had only an elementary school-level education, leveraged his wartime fame to raise funds for a high school in his native Tennessee. He also administered the school for several years.

"He wanted to be remembered as a man of peace rather than a man of war, and for his belief in God," York said.

York founded the Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute, a private agricultural school in Jamestown, Tennessee, that was eventually turned over to the State of Tennessee. The school, now known as Alvin C. York Institute, is the only fully state-funded public high school in the State of Tennessee. The school is a nationally recognized school of excellence and boasts the highest high school graduation percentage in the state. It is home to almost 800 students.

York also opened a Bible School, and later operated a mill in Pall Mall on the Wolf River.

During World War II he attempted to re-enlist in the Infantry but was denied due to age. Instead he went on bond tours and made personal appearances to support the war effort. He convinced the state of the need for a reserve force at home and was active in the creation of the Tennessee State Guard in 1941, in which he served as a Colonel and Commanding Officer of the 7th Infantry Regiment. He was also involved with recruiting and war bond drives as well as inspection tours of American soldiers in training.

Alvin York died at the Veterans Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 2, 1964, of a cerebral hemorrhage and was buried at the Wolf River Cemetery in Pall Mall.

Awards

• Medal of Honor
• Distinguished Service Cross
• World War I Victory Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• French Légion d'honneur
• French Croix de guerre with Palm
• Italian Croce di Guerra
• Montenegrin War Medal

Legacy

Alvin C. York Veterans Hospital

Located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Alvin C. York Institute

Founded as a private agricultural high school in 1926 by Alvin York and residents of Fentress County, the school became public in 1937 due to the Depression and continues to serve as Jamestown's high school.

1941 film

York's story was told in the 1941 movie Sergeant York, with Gary Cooper in the title role. York refused to authorize a film version of his life story unless he received a contractual guarantee that Cooper would be the actor to portray him. Cooper won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

York Avenue, NYC

York Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan was named for the Sergeant in 1928.

M-247 (DIVAD weapon system)

In the 1980s, the United States Army named its DIVAD weapon system "Sergeant York"; the project was cancelled due to technical problems and massive cost overruns.

U.S. Postal Service Distinguished Soldiers stamp

On May 5, 2000, the United States Postal Service issued the "Distinguished Soldiers" stamps, in which York was honored.

Laura Cantrell song

Laura Cantrell's song "Old Downtown" mentions York in depth.

President Reagan funeral procession

The riderless horse in the funeral procession of President Ronald Reagan was named Sergeant York.

82nd Airborne theater

The 82nd Airborne Division's movie theater at Fort Bragg, North Carolina is named York Theater.

Sergeant York Historic Trail

"The Sergeant York Historic Trail is being constructed under the supervision of LTC Douglas Mastriano and the Sergeant York Discovery Expedition in the Argonne,

Inauguration of Trail and Monument on October 4th 2008

so that all visitors to the Argonne can walk where York walked. Boy Scout troops have already started work on the trail. All French officials in the region approved the trail and the locations of markers. A large dedication ceremony will be done on the spot of York's feat in a date TBD. A large contingent from the French military and the US Army are expected."

Football trophy

The traveling American football trophy between Austin Peay, UT Martin, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech is called the Alvin C. York trophy.

229th Military Intelligence Battalion hall

The 229th US Army Military Intelligence Battalion, Alpha Company, Monterey California, dedicated their soldier's hall in honor of SGT York. COL Gerald York (US Army, retired, grandson of Alvin York) officiated at the dedication ceremony.^{[citation needed]}

Sergeant Alvin C. York Statue

A monumental sized statue of York by sculptor Felix de Weldon was placed on the grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol in 1968.

Alvin C. York Memorial

A modest bronze helmet rests atop a stone flag on the grounds of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. A poem on this monument is dedicated to York.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• York, Alvin C. (Medal of Honor citation). Medal of Honor Recipients — World War I. U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH).

• Trust amidst doubt and adversity: The Testimony of Alvin C York. The Sergeant York Discovery Expedition.

• The SYDE Story. The Sergeant York Discovery Expedition. Retrieved 2006-03-06.

• York, Alvin (1928). Sergeant York: His Own Life Story and War Diary. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Doran. 

• Alvin York at Find A Grave Retrieved on 2007-10-21

• Wheeler, Richard (editor) (1998). Sergeant York and the Great War. Bulverde, TX: Mantle Ministries. 

• Trulock, Alice (1992). In the Hands of Providence. University of North Carolina Press. 

• Williams, Gladys. Alvin C. York. York Institute. Archived from the original on 2005-03-26.

External links

• Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation Sgtyork.org.
• The Diary of Alvin York Acacia.pair.com.
• Allies conduct ceremonies to honor U.S. World War I hero Sgt. Alvin York Army.mil.
• Birdwell, Dr. Michael. Sergeant Alvin York Worldwar1.com.
• Medal of Honor Recipients Portrayed On Film Prweb0.voicenet.com.
• Army Officer: Sgt. York Battle Site Located Cbn.com.
• Do cartridges mark the spot of York’s heroics? Msnbc.msn.com.
• The Sergeant York Discovery Expedition Sgtyorkdiscovery.com.
• Sergeant York site found! Youtube.com.
• Alvin York and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive Historynet.com.

• Schiller, Dr. David (The Visier Magazine). "Where Sgt York fought "One day in Oktober"", German researches, 2008-12-25. Retrieved 2008-12-25. German researches endorse Sergeant York Discovery Expedition discovery of where York fought

• Clark, Dr. Jeff (The Center of Military History). "Institute of Military History", Senior US Historians, 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-01-02. USA endorsement of where Sergeant York earned the Medal of Honor

• Zabecki, MG. "Major General Zabecki", Senior World War One Historians, 2009-01-02. Retrieved 2009-01-02. Senior US military historian review of Sgt York discovery

• Scellos, BG. "General Scellos", French Army comments on the Sgt York discovery, 2008-12-31. Retrieved 2009-01-02. Senior French Army comments on SGT York discovery

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