October 8 – Alvin C. York Day

nPostednon October 8, 2013

Todaynis the commemoration of a heroic deed during World War I.

nAlvinnC. York had been born in a two-room cabin in Tennessee, back in 1887.nHe didn’t want to fight in the war because of his strong religiousnviews, but he was drafted into the army anyway. He discussed with hisncommanders how conflicted he felt between his religion’s pacifistnstance and his training in the army. Eventually he decided that, innthis war at least, he should fight and even kill…if he had to.

nAnd,nsadly, he had to.

nOnnthis date in 1918, the battalion that York belonged was sent toncapture a German position along a railway in France. However, thenGermans were safely tucked into a “machine gun nest” on the hillnand were killing American soldiers right and left. So a small groupnof soldiers, including York, were sent to work their way behindnGerman lines and take out those machine guns.

nAtnfirst the small expedition was a success, and the American soldiersncaptured a large group of German soldiers. Then came thencounter-attack; the German machine guns peppered the area, killingnand injuring nine of the U.S. soldiers.

nSuddenly, York was the highest ranking soldier still active…so he wasnnow in charge of the other seven remaining troops. n

nThenseven guarded the prisoners while York took on the German soldiersnmanning the machine guns. All by himself.

Apparently,nYork was an excellent shot. He took a sniper position and shot 17 ofnthe 30 or so German gunners. Finally the Germans realized that theynwere facing just one man, so six or seven (accounts differ) Germannsoldiers rushed at York with their bayonets. They may have realizednthat York was out of rifle ammunition.

nButnYork had a pistol, and he drew that and was able to kill all 6 – 7nGerman soldiers before they reached him!

nThenGerman commander facing York emptied his own pistol trying to killnthe American sharp-shooter, but he didn’t even injure York. So hencalled out in English and surrendered. York and the seven U.S.nsoldiers he led were able to march out 132 German prisoners and 32nGerman machine guns.

nAsnheroic as this story is, of course, it is also completely tragic thatnso many young men—the Germans as well as the Americans—died “forntheir country.” York never wanted to kill—even when he felt henhad to. He wrote that, all the while that he was proving hisnexcellent marksmanship:

n“Inkept yelling at them to come down. I didn’t want to kill any morenthan I had to. But it was they or I. And I was giving them the best Inhad.”

A lot of things, such as buildings,
roads, and a state historic park, are
named after Alvin C. York

nYorkngot a lot of fame, the Medal of Honor, and some offers of fortune fornhis amazing feat. He turned down the offers of money for appearances,nnewspaper articles, and movie rights to his life story. He turnedndown cash for appearing in advertisements. Instead, he leant his namento charitable causes and campaigned successfully to get a road builtnto the region of Tennessee where he was born.

n(York did accept thengift of a farm, but he ended up losing a lot of money when peoplenreneged on their promises at the same time that there was a farmingndepression.)

Gary Cooper won an Oscar for playing the part
of Sergeant York.

nYork cooperated with journalists, publishers, andneventually even Hollywood to bring his story to America, but it seemsnthat most or all of his earnings went to charities and schools.

nAlsonon this date: