The Real Sergeant York

New American ^ | January 5, 1998 | Thomas A. Burzynski

[RSM]

The most famous member of the 82d wasn't a paratrooper!

[Portnoy]

This summer I was on a road trip traveling down the 127 corridor. I stopped off at the Cemetary to see his grave and the church then drove a bit up the road to see his house.

Truly inspirational....

[john316]

If'n you have the chance you should visit his home in TN. I took the wife and kids a couple of years ago and they will never forget it. BTW Sgt York was my boyhood hero.

[Redbob]

Thanks.

[91B]

By 1961, Alvin York, one of America’s greatest military heroes, was partially paralyzed, almost completely blind, and virtually penniless. The American government, through the Internal Revenue Service, repaid its debt by suing York for back taxes. The IRS claimed that York’s royalties from the movie, most of which had gone to charity, should be taxed at a higher rate than York had used. In all, the IRS claimed York owed the U.S. government $85,442, plus an additional $87,155 in interest.

Sigh.

[truthkeeper]

Thank you for this fine post; I enjoyed reading it.
BTTT

[Leroy S. Mort]

[cwb]

Definitely an American hero. But speaking of war and its consequences, here was a war were most US soldiers only saw 6 months of actual battle. The first engagments with the enemy didn't take place until May of 1918 and the Armistice was signed in November of 1918. Yet in 6 months, over 116,000 US soldiers lost their lives (total). Just a little perspective for the anti-war crowd, as we've passed our 6 month point.

[Shooter 2.5]

Suddenly a German officer and five men jumped out of the trench and charged me with fixed bayonets. I changed to the old automatic and just touched them off, too. I touched off the sixth man first, then the fifth, then the fourth, then the third, and so on. I wanted them to keep coming. I didn’t want the rear ones to see me touching off the front ones. I was afraid they would drop down and pump a volley into me.

Colt 1911 bump!

[Prodigal Son]

I hate the IRS. I really do.

[AngryJawa]

Anyone know at what range(s) York killed those six Germans with the 1911?

[PoorMuttly]

Thank you SO much for this post.

May we Never, EVER Forget !

[headsonpikes]

The IRS 'touches' folks, just like Alvin!

[toast]

Is it Sergeant or York.
http://home.att.net/~chmilnir/bewitch/main.html

[LittleJoe]

Anyone know at what range(s) York killed those six Germans with the 1911?

Thirty yards...Camp Perry

[Shooter 2.5]

It took me this long to figure out he used a 1911. I had read a lot of accounts of him and most of them stated he used an "automatic". I always thought he had picked a Luger off one of the Germans. I didn't think he was carrying a pistol with his P17 Enfield. The rifle was chambered in 30-06.

I do remember a sketch he had made but I believe it showed the position of the machine gun nests.

[Shooter 2.5]

York's Diary

http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/York/diary.html

[RedMonqey]

Compare his truly heroic actions in battle and to Jessica Lynches' "heroic" actions and the Welcome her nation's media fawned over her.

Not a slam on her but what is considered "heroic" in today's P.C world......

[y2k_free_radical]

ME 2