Alvin York: Difference between revisions
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York was born in [[Pall Mall, Tennessee]] in the Valley of the Three Forks of the Wolf, the third of eleven children born to William York and Mary Elizabeth York, née Brooks. As was typical of the area and times, his family subsisted by [[farming]] and [[hunting]]. As a result, young Alvin became an expert marksman in the area woods. |
York was born in [[Pall Mall, Tennessee]] in the Valley of the Three Forks of the Wolf, the third of eleven children born to William York and Mary Elizabeth York, née Brooks. As was typical of the area and times, his family subsisted by [[farming]] and [[hunting]]. As a result, young Alvin became an expert marksman in the area woods. |
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York was something of a "nuisance" as a youth, frequently getting into drunken brawls. In [[1914]], his best friend was killed in a bar fight, prompting York to change his ways. He became a devout [[Christian]] after that incident, joining the denomination known as the Church of Christ in Christian Union (see [http://www.cccuhq.org/]). His conversion led him to file as a [[conscientious objector]] at the start of World War I, though there are disputes as to his exact technical status. According to York's diary "Sergeant York, his own life story and war diary" (Doubleday, Doran, 1928), his mother and his pastor filed the application for conscientious objector status on York's behalf, but York refused to sign the papers. |
York was something of a "nuisance" as a youth, frequently getting into drunken brawls. In [[1914]], his best friend was killed in a bar fight, prompting York to change his ways. He became a devout [[Christian]] after that incident, joining the denomination known as the Church of Christ in Christian Union (see [http://www.cccuhq.org/]). His conversion supposedly led him to file as a [[conscientious objector]] at the start of World War I, though there are disputes as to his exact technical status. According to York's diary "Sergeant York, his own life story and war diary" (Doubleday, Doran, 1928), his mother and his pastor filed the application for conscientious objector status on York's behalf, but York refused to sign the papers. |
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==World War I== |
==World War I== |
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Initially, York's [[chain of command]] honored this accomplishment by awarding him the [[Distinguished Service Cross (USA)|Distinguished Service Cross]]. [[France]], whose forces he was directly aiding and whose territory was involved, added its [[Croix de Guerre]] and [[Legion of Honor]]. [[Italy]] and [[Montenegro]], also allies, awarded him their [[Croce di Guerra]] and [[War Medal (Montenegro)|War Medal]], respectively. The Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the [[Medal of Honor]], which was presented to York by the commanding general of the [[American Expeditionary Force]], [[John Pershing|John J. Pershing.]] |
Initially, York's [[chain of command]] honored this accomplishment by awarding him the [[Distinguished Service Cross (USA)|Distinguished Service Cross]]. [[France]], whose forces he was directly aiding and whose territory was involved, added its [[Croix de Guerre]] and [[Legion of Honor]]. [[Italy]] and [[Montenegro]], also allies, awarded him their [[Croce di Guerra]] and [[War Medal (Montenegro)|War Medal]], respectively. The Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the [[Medal of Honor]], which was presented to York by the commanding general of the [[American Expeditionary Force]], [[John Pershing|John J. Pershing.]] |
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At the time of his heroics, York was in fact still a [[corporal]]. His promotion to [[sergeant]] was part of the honor that he received for his valor but resulted in his becoming known to the United States (and much of the world) as "Sergeant York" |
At the time of his heroics, York was in fact still a [[corporal]]. His promotion to [[sergeant]] was part of the honor that he received for his valor but resulted in his becoming known to the United States (and much of the world) as "Sergeant York". |
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==Medal of Honor citation== |
==Medal of Honor citation== |
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Revision as of 23:38, 26 December 2006
Alvin Cullum York | |
|---|---|
 Sergeant Alvin York | |
| Nickname(s) | "Sergeant York" |
| Allegiance | U.S. Army |
| Unit | 82nd Infantry Division |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Legion of Honor Croix de Guerre Croce di Guerra War medal (Montenegero) |
Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887 – September 2, 1964) was a United States soldier, famous for his heroism in World War I. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine-gun nest, killing 32 German soldiers and capturing 132 others as well as knocking out 35 German machine guns, completely overtaking a German controlled hill.
Early life
York was born in Pall Mall, Tennessee in the Valley of the Three Forks of the Wolf, the third of eleven children born to William York and Mary Elizabeth York, née Brooks. As was typical of the area and times, his family subsisted by farming and hunting. As a result, young Alvin became an expert marksman in the area woods.
York was something of a "nuisance" as a youth, frequently getting into drunken brawls. In 1914, his best friend was killed in a bar fight, prompting York to change his ways. He became a devout Christian after that incident, joining the denomination known as the Church of Christ in Christian Union (see [1]). His conversion supposedly led him to file as a conscientious objector at the start of World War I, though there are disputes as to his exact technical status. According to York's diary "Sergeant York, his own life story and war diary" (Doubleday, Doran, 1928), his mother and his pastor filed the application for conscientious objector status on York's behalf, but York refused to sign the papers.
World War I
York eventually was drafted into the United States Army and assigned to the 82nd Infantry Division in 1917.
At some point he experienced a change of heart and decided he would fight, but would never be proud of his war-time exploits.
As a corporal in the 328th Infantry, in the Battle of Meuse River-Argonne Forest on 1918 October 8, he assumed command of his detachment after three other NCOs fell. While he is sometimes described as acting single-handedly, his official citation says he led seven others in a charge on an active machine-gun nest.
The fact that York deserves credit for his heroism is without question. Unfortunately, however, his exploit has been blown out of proportion with some accounts claiming that he silenced thirty-five machine guns and captured 132 prisoners single-handedly. York never claimed that he acted alone, nor was he proud of what he did. Twenty-five Germans lay dead, and by his own account, York was responsible for at least nine of the deaths. Only two of the seven survivors were acknowledged for their participation in the event; Sergeant Early and Corporal Cutting were finally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1927.
Initially, York's chain of command honored this accomplishment by awarding him the Distinguished Service Cross. France, whose forces he was directly aiding and whose territory was involved, added its Croix de Guerre and Legion of Honor. Italy and Montenegro, also allies, awarded him their Croce di Guerra and War Medal, respectively. The Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor, which was presented to York by the commanding general of the American Expeditionary Force, John J. Pershing.
At the time of his heroics, York was in fact still a corporal. His promotion to sergeant was part of the honor that he received for his valor but resulted in his becoming known to the United States (and much of the world) as "Sergeant York".
Medal of Honor citation
- Rank: Corporal, U.S. Army
- Organization: Company G, 328th Infantry, 82d Division.
- Place: Near Chatel-Chehery, France
- Date: 8 October 1918.
- Entered service at: Pall Mall, Tennessee
- Order: No.: 59, W.D., 1919
Citation: After his platoon had suffered heavy casualties and 3 other noncommissioned officers had become casualties, Cpl. York assumed command. Fearlessly leading 7 men, he charged with great daring a machinegun nest which was pouring deadly and incessant fire upon his platoon. In this heroic feat the machinegun nest was taken, together with 4 officers and 128 men and several guns.
Post-war life
Returning home as a war hero, York founded a private agricultural institute in Jamestown, Tennessee, near his home community of Pall Mall. The Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute never thrived under his management and was eventually turned over to the State of Tennessee. It still serves as the public high school for the northern part of Fentress County, Tennessee despite being operated by the State Department of Education; theoretically any qualified high school student from any part of Tennessee can attend school there in order to study agriculture, but in practice almost all of the students are from the immediate area.
York later operated a mill in Pall Mall on the Wolf River which is today part of a state park (His son, Andrew York, serves as a park ranger there).
In gratitude for his accomplishments, the state of Tennessee provided him with a white frame house near the mill (Note: York's daughter-in-law who still works at his house/museum clarifies that the state signed papers on a loan for the house. York still had to pay the loan back.) The house still stands near U.S. Highway 127, which is appropriately named Alvin C. York Highway (commonly referred to as York Highway) where it runs through Fentress County.
Alvin York died at the Veterans Hospital in Nashville, TN on September 2, 1964, of a cerebral hemorrhage and was buried at the Wolf River Cemetery in Pall Mall, TN.
Legacy
York's life story was told in the 1941 movie Sergeant York, with Gary Cooper portraying the title role.
In the 1980s, the United States Army named its "DIVAD" anti-aircraft weapon the "Sergeant York"; this project was cancelled, however, due to technical problems.
On May 5, 2000, the United States Postal Service issued the Distinguished Soldiers stamps, in which York was honored.
Once after being heckled by an anti-war protester, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld replied "Good for you, Sergeant York." [2]
Laura Cantrell's song "Old Downtown" mentions York in depth.
The riderless horse in the funeral procession of President Ronald Reagan was named Sergeant York.
The 82nd Airborne Division's movie theater on Fort Bragg, North Carolina is named York Theater
External links
- Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation site
- Alvin C. York Citation: Congressional Medal of Honor Society
- Medal of Honor Recipients on Film: Alvin Cullum York
- Legends & Traditions of the Great War: Sergeant Alvin York - Biography by Dr. Michael Birdwell
- Photograph; Selective Service Registration Card - US National Archives
- Sergeant York And His People, by Sam Cowan, 1922, from Project Gutenberg