I have read that he hunted grouse as a youngster. If there were several in a tree, he'd start with the bottom one and work upwards. If he shot the top one first, it would fall past the others and spook them.
Knowledge was behind his courage.
I have read that he hunted grouse as a youngster. If there were several in a tree, he'd start with the bottom one and work upwards. If he shot the top one first, it would fall past the others and spook them.Early in the movie, IIRC, he's talking with some guys on who to shoot first in a group, and the New Yorker says "The Motorman" (driver of a subway train). York says no, start from the rear, just like when hunting geese. Shoot the lead bird and the flock disintegrates - start from the back and work up.
It sounds like Hollywood took the grouse story and modified it.