Posted on 09/02/2014 11:58:48 AM PDT by Borges
God would never be cruel enough to create a cyclone as terrible as that Argonne battle. Only man would ever think of doing an awful thing like that. And Im telling you the little log cabin in Wolf Valley in old Tennessee seemed a long, long way off.
With those words, Sergeant Alvin C. York recalled the intensity of the October, 1918 battle that defined him for generations of Tennesseans as the most highly decorated American soldier of World War I, earning the Congressional Medal of Honor among numerous other awards.
In those moments of battle, York, of Fentress County, a self-proclaimed reluctant solider, demonstrated extraordinary valor and strength of leadership in the defense of his men and their position.
Arriving back ihan the United States after the wars end, Sgt. York was hailed as a hero and greeted by New York City with a ticker tape parade.
York returned to his beloved Tennessee hills and farming, married his church sweetheart, had a family and campaigned tirelessly for increased educational opportunities for the young people of the Upper Cumberland region.
He became one of the most recognizable Tennesseans although he was reluctant to capitalize on his service record for anything other than the fight for education equality.
Sgt. York died on Sept. 2, 1964 and was buried among his family and friends in Pall Mall, Tenn.
A special commemoration event on the 50th anniversary of Yorks death will be held Monday, Sept. 1 at the Tennessee State Capitol Grounds in Nashville at 5 p.m.
That would be a great trip! I would love to do it when I go to Nashville again sometime.
I just can’t believe someone would rather go on a cruise. Ha! :)
No to your context, FDR had to go to a draft to fill the ground forces.
Enlistments weren’t cutting it.
Priceless!
“We don’t “celebrate” a death...it’s certainly no cause for celebration.”
I beg to differ with you, my FRiend. There are a few in DC whose death’s will be cause for celebration! I ain’t gonna start a list, naming names, here, but I suspect many who might read this could come up with some of the same names I would, if I had a mind to do so!
That is a great line. If I am not mistaken, he said “when I’m fixing to do some shooting.”
As a Southerner, I still say I’m “fixing” to do things. Anyone who takes exception to that...well, bless their hearts.
Too bad he was also a Democrat.
commemorated, not celebrated
That doesn’t explain him cutting off enlistments entirely.
Near as I can tell, WWII was the only US war in which voluntary enlistments were cut off. Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI, Korea, Viet Nam all accepted both draftees and volunteers for the duration of the war. At no time during these wars was voluntary enlistment cut off. Again, enlistment was CUT OFF in Dec 1942. My context (regarding WWII) is precisely correct. WWII was fought primarily under the unique circumstances of neither the War Department nor the Navy Department accepting voluntary enlistment.
Again, this does not apply to WWI and SGT York.
“Now there are tens thousands of Sgt. Yorks in America. Both M/F ...”
They are like the rifles behind every blade of grass....
I fired expert with the M-16A2 at age 61 just before I retired (warrant officer). Just got my CCW. Guess I can still shoot a rifle.
Sergeant York tried to re-enlist after Pearl Harbor but was too old for combat. Instead, he was commissioned a major in the army signal corps & traveled the country supporting the war effort.
The WWII Army was 93% draftee.
The government had just witnessed this in WWI, when enlistments had instantly died out, we saw this after 9/11.
Your response should have begun with "Yes".
Beyond that, I'm not sure what you're trying to argue about.
You have not denied (nor can you) that FDR cut off voluntary enlistment on 1942-12-05.
You have not denied (nor can you) that his cut-off of voluntary enlistment was unique to WWII.
I find your unattributed link mildly amusing, however:
"By February 1943 intake at Marine recruit depots had reduced to a trickle ..."
Well, of course they were reduced to a trickle. In Dec, 1942 the PRESIDENT himself had ended voluntary enlistment. What did your unattributed author expect? Hordes of men showing up to be told "No! We don't accept volunteers!"?
Nice.
My uncle, a WWII vet, told me that from 1943 on their were no more enlistments. If you tried to enlist you were told that you would go into the service when you were told to report. My uncle wanted to join the navy, but he was drafted into the army.
Thank you.
That’s what I’ve been saying (with reference to original sources).
Thanks for that link and info on the end of voluntary enlistment. Recent research on Ancestry.com gave me my dad’s enlistment info from 1940 into the US Army Air Corps. I believe all of his older brothers, save one, went in around the same time, just ahead of the draft that began in that same year.
One of my all time favorites.
One night when I was about 12 I was bullied at a party, my Mom came and picked me up and to help dry my tears, said “Sgt York” is on later tonight.
Very funny! I can just hear it.
Indeed, he was a hero. Sgt. York was the last of the two living heroes in my life. I no longer have any living heroes.
Desmond Doss was the last.
May God bless them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.