Freeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Sgt Alvin P York ~ 19 May 08

Linked In Thread | StarCMC and Beetle Bailey

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Sgt. Alvin C. York

           

BIOGRAPHY

Alvin Cullum York (1887-1964) ended the First World War as one of America's most famous soldiers, with fame and popular recognition assured following a remarkable act of courage and coolness in October 1918.

Having grown up in poverty the young York honed his skills as a crack marksman, a useful talent for use in hunting food for himself and his family - and one put to high effect during the war.

Despite his remarkable reputation for bravery and the win-at-all-costs attitude displayed during his wartime service York was and remained a pacifist.  Following a religious conversion in 1911 - he became lay deacon of a local pacifist sect - he declared himself a convinced pacifist.

Consequently with the U.S. entry into World War One York initially returned his draft papers before they were summarily resent to him by the draft board, at which stage he was drafted into 328th Regiment, 82nd Infantry.  During training however he was convinced by his battalion commander, Gonzalo Edward Buxton - a fellow Bible student - that the Bible sanctioned active service.

Once in France the semi-literate York earned lifetime fame for his part in an attack in the Argonne Forest against German machine gun positions on 8 October 1918.  York, an acting Corporal, led 17 men in action against a German stronghold, the aim being to secure the position and return with German prisoners.

Initially successful without coming under fire, the small expedition took a number of prisoners before the Germans launched a heavy counterattack.  With 11 of York's men guarding the captured prisoners (and with the other six killed) York resolved to proceed alone and tackle the German gunners ranged against them.

Having shot some 17 gunners via sniping, York was charged by seven German soldiers who realised that he was operating on his own.  He killed them all with his pistol.  With the aid of a German Major captured earlier York brought in a total of 132 German prisoners, a remarkable feat.

He was well rewarded however, receiving lavish press coverage at home and the Congressional Medal of Honor, in addition to the French Croix de Guerre (and a fulsome citation from Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch).

Returning home to a New York City parade, York was awarded a gift of a farm by his home state, Tennessee.  A film of his life was made in 1940, Sergeant York, starring Gary Cooper; York used the fee he was paid for the film to fund a Bible college.

He died in 1964.

Link

 

QUOTES

"Sir, I am doing wrong. Practicing to kill people is against my religion."

York, speaking of target practice at human silhouettes.

 

"What you did was the greatest thing accomplished by any private soldier of all the armies of Europe."

Marshall Ferdinand Foch, on York's feat in the Argonne.

 

"This uniform ain't for sale."

York, on demands for his endorsement.

 

"It's over; let's just forget about it."

York's modesty about the the event that brought him the Medal of Honor.
 

Link 

Medal of Honor Citation

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company G, 328th Infantry, 82d Division.
Place and date: Near Chatel-Chehery, France, 8 October 1918.
Entered service at: Pall Mall, Tenn.
Born: 13 December 1887, Fentress County, Tenn.
G.O. 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.  

Please remember, the Canteen is family friendly and we exist to support and honor our troops and their families, as well as our Allies Troops and theirs.  Thank you to every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman out there for doing what you do to keep us safe.  We are ever in your debt.  And thank you, too, to the families and friends who support them.  God bless our troops.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Sunday evening, Radix. Hope you had some resting time today.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor....hope you got a good night’s sleep and are feeling better today. Thanks for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, Das Outsider....thanks for thanking the author. I just posted it for her.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Sand...how was your Scout outing yesterday?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Hope, for today's Pledge. Thanks, AfghanMan and Penguin Girl, for your service to America.

[Das Outsider]

Welcome to the Canteen, Das Outsider....

Thank you. I'll have to check out the "Hall of Heroes" series more often.

[luvie]

*snicker*

“Drive-In” babies.....I’ll bet there are statistics........

[luvie]

Thanks, Star and Kathy, for posting this tribute to a real down-to-earth hero who had no idea that he was heroic.

And that is one of the qualifications.

All our troops are heroes to me!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Aloha, Hawaii....little people report. What did you decide on for a snack?

[luvie]

?

[luvie]

?

[The Mayor]

Yes I did, Thank you Kathy.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, lauren, for our National Anthem...singing along.

[luvie]

I can’t think of another actor who had the “presence” to play this hero on the screen besides Cooper!

Thanks for that little tidbit of information, News Diva!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hall of Heroes is posted most every Monday (Sunday evening).

[luvie]

Good evening, Rus! Good to see you....hope you have a great and productive week. Have you got lots of spring projects lined up?

Thanks for our beautiful lesson from God’s Word.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Virginia Ridgerunner, for adding this part of Sgt York’s life. The IRS lacks good sense at times. God Bless those who contributed to, and retired, this MOH recipient’s debt.

[SevenofNine]

BTW TCM going show this Memorial Day weekend I don’t know I know it going be on

BTW there is report off Xinurae news wire China say about China going spent three day mourning victims of that massive earthquake

Also another report coming off UK Telegraph claim that human right group claim that generation of kids were lost in this quake they profile on this one couple who lost their own daughter in quake it really sad

[The Mayor]

Very slow right now, everyone is afraid of the economy and 4.00 a gallon gas.

[luvie]

Prayers for the quake victims. This is truly a tragedy of spectacular proportions. I pray that they continue to find survivors.