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On this Day a Tennessee Boy Killed 25 and Captured 132 Enemy
History Channel web page ^ | 10/08/2001 | staff

Posted on 10/08/2001 12:06:01 PM PDT by the irate magistrate

ALVIN YORK KILLS 25 AND CAPTURES 132:

During World War I, U.S. Corporal Alvin C. York is credited with single-handedly killing 25 German soldiers and capturing 132 in the Argonne Forest of France. The action saved York's small detachment from annihilation by a German machine-gun nest and won the reluctant warrior from backwater Tennessee the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Born in a log cabin in rural Tennessee in 1887, Alvin Cullum York supplemented his family's subsistence farming by hunting and, like his father, was soon an expert marksman. He also earned a reputation as a hell-raiser, and few imagined he would amount to anything but trouble. Around 1915, however, York experienced a religious conversion after a friend was killed in a bar brawl. He joined the fundamentalist Church of Christ in Christian Union and served as song leader and Sunday school teacher at the local church.

Two months after the United States declared war on Germany in 1917, York received his draft notice. Because his church opposed war, he asked for conscientious objector status but was denied at both the state and local level because the small Church of Christ in Christian Union was not recognized as a legitimate Christian sect. Enlisting in the 82nd Infantry Division, he was offered noncombat duty but eventually agreed to fight after being convinced by a superior that America's cause was just.

On October 8, 1918, York and 15 other soldiers under the command of Sergeant Bernard Early were dispatched to seize a German-held rail point during the Allies' Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The Americans lost their way and soon found themselves behind enemy lines. A brief firefight ensued with a superior German force, and in the confusion a group of Germans surrendered. However, German machine-gunners on a hill overlooking the scene soon noticed the small size of Early's patrol. Yelling in German for their comrades to take cover, the machine gunners opened fire on the Americans, cutting down half the detachment, including Sergeant Early.

York immediately returned fire and with his marksman eye began picking off the German gunners. He then fearlessly charged the machine-gun nest. Several of the other surviving Americans followed his lead and probably contributed to the final total of 25 enemy killed. With his automatic pistol, York shot down six German soldiers sent out of the trench to intercept him. The German commander, thinking he had underestimated the size of the American force, surrendered as York reached the machine-gun nest. York and the other seven survivors took custody of some 90 Germans and on the way back to the Allied lines encountered 40 or so other enemy troops, who were coerced to surrender by the German major that the Americans had in their custody. The final tally was 132 prisoners.

York was promoted to the rank of sergeant and hailed as the greatest civilian soldier of the war by several Allied leaders. He was given a hero's welcome upon his return to the United States in 1919 and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration. In the 1920s, he used his fame to raise funds for the York Industrial Institute (now Alvin C. York Institute), a school for underprivileged children in rural Tennessee. He later opened a Bible school. Sergeant York, the 1941 film starring Gary Cooper, was based on his life. York died in 1964.

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TOPICS: Announcements; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: alvincyork; godsgravesglyphs; tennessee; worldwarone
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To: the irate magistrate
This reminds me of a rather humorous incident in WWII. I'm sorry I don't remember names or complete details, but it is a true story and as I remember it goes like this.

As the end of the war neared, most German soldiers knew that Germany had no hope of winning the war. Rather than be killed, or risk being taken prisoners by the Russians, who treated prisoners with barbaric cruelty, many german soldiers were more than eager to be taken prisoners by American or British forces.

One day during the winter of 1944/1945 an American GI was out alone, hunting for food. He shot at a deer but missed. Seconds later, out of the woods streamed dozens of German soldiers, all with their arms raised. In all, somewhere around 100 German soldiers surrendered to the single American GI.

21 posted on 10/08/2001 1:12:30 PM PDT by rogers21774
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To: Iris7
Amen to that:

It is certain that the Lord was with York that day eighty three years ago, and very satisfying that the Lord will aid a good man with a clear conscience firing a good rifle.

22 posted on 10/08/2001 1:13:22 PM PDT by GOPJ
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To: green team 1999; Deb; Jim Robinson; Buckeroo; Hobbb
You're welcome my friend!

Did you ever see the movie where the consientious Sgt York was portrayed by Gary Cooper?

23 posted on 10/08/2001 1:16:16 PM PDT by the irate magistrate
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To: the irate magistrate
This is such a great movie!
24 posted on 10/08/2001 1:20:54 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam
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To: the irate magistrate
Wonderful post -- I love the movie.
25 posted on 10/08/2001 1:24:29 PM PDT by alethia
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To: MayflowerMadam
I just love your screen name.

Are you from the Cape area?

26 posted on 10/08/2001 1:28:05 PM PDT by the irate magistrate
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To: the irate magistrate
This kind of skill is being lost because of the madness of the Left's PC anti-gun movement against the so-called "gun culture" by our government schools.

This was in an era that many all rural farm boys had great marksmen skills, that enabled them to preform these extraordinary feats when required while preforming their military duties.

I remember a WWII vet telling me that US soldiers were much better shooters than their European counterparts.

I know, liberals will make sure others die for them to make love without the sight of the gun. It's this mentality that killed millions of south vietnamese as the North massacred its way southward.

Today those disgusting perverts want to make love on top of the roting corpses of the WTC.

27 posted on 10/08/2001 1:28:58 PM PDT by lavaroise
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To: the irate magistrate
This kind of skill is being lost because of the madness of the Left's PC anti-gun movement against the so-called "gun culture" by our government schools.

They are trying, but there are still plenty of good ol' boys left. My son is 11 and shoots a bolt rifle pretty well. He is, unfortunately, an oddity in his school.

28 posted on 10/08/2001 1:30:31 PM PDT by MileHi
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To: the irate magistrate
"Front sight, press." Amazing what can happen when the basics are calmly followed.
29 posted on 10/08/2001 1:35:23 PM PDT by ctdonath2
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To: the irate magistrate
It was not rare that their mothers would also particpate in the hunt at times

I never knew my maternal Grandmother, but my Daddy told me she was the best shot in the family!

30 posted on 10/08/2001 1:38:45 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: alethia: mercuria: republic; BadRay; AnnaZ; Alamo Girl; jeff head
Thank you!

It's good to remember the anniversaries of America's heros, every day ordinary men that perform extraordinary feats, such as Alvin York.

Today is the 83rd anniversary.

31 posted on 10/08/2001 1:54:25 PM PDT by the irate magistrate
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To: the irate magistrate; Martin Tell
While I lived in Nashville I was determined to find out exactly how York accomplished his feat. After reading dozens of books I never found out due to each book having a different version. I also read accounts of which pistol he used and whether it was a Luger or 1911. Fans of the .45 will claim that only a .45 can do 6 one shot stops. I never found out which one he used and the accounts never mentioned it. I do know that he didn't use a Springfield. He used a 1917 Enfield.

The statue of York outside the Capitol Building was broken while I was there. Someone had tried to swing from the rifle and had snapped it off. I was very pleased to find out that within a very short time the statue was restored in perfect condition.

32 posted on 10/08/2001 1:57:16 PM PDT by Shooter 2.5
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To: the irate magistrate
Because his church opposed war, he asked for conscientious objector status . . . York immediately returned fire and with his marksman eye began picking off the German gunners. He then fearlessly charged the machine-gun nest. Several of the other surviving Americans followed his lead and probably contributed to the final total of 25 enemy killed. With his automatic pistol, York shot down six German soldiers sent out of the trench to intercept him.

He sure makes for a lousy pacifist!

33 posted on 10/08/2001 2:00:32 PM PDT by xm177e2
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To: lavaroise
When I lived in Europe, I used to reply to complaints about how violent Americans were by noting, "No, we're not more violent. We're just better shots."
34 posted on 10/08/2001 2:06:35 PM PDT by Martin Tell
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To: Shooter 2.5; morgan's raider; hangfire; henchster; lurker; incindiary; feinswinesuksass
At least some busybody government lefty didn't try to replace the rifle with a broom or, something else;...like that school principal did when he air brushed over the long rifle of his school's minuteman mascot.
35 posted on 10/08/2001 2:15:42 PM PDT by the irate magistrate
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To: the irate magistrate,Iris7
Ping for a true American hero. Thanks for the posts.
36 posted on 10/08/2001 2:19:18 PM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: the irate magistrate
The evidence of the common sense of the Tennessee people is in the last election. When I left, I had tears in my eyes and my destination was Texas. I don't know what I would have done if my job would have sent me to a blue zone.
37 posted on 10/08/2001 2:29:35 PM PDT by Shooter 2.5
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To: the irate magistrate
Great post and I love the movie. I thougt Al Bore invented this story.
38 posted on 10/08/2001 2:35:12 PM PDT by Patriotic Rich
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To: Will
New guy here, What is "bump"?

When you reply to a thread it moves the title of that thread to the top of the list for others to see. Or bump up to the top

So when most people want to keep the thread up at the top but have nothing to say they put bump. It also places this thread in your self-search list. When you do a self-search any thread that you have replied to will show up. Some use this to come back later to read a thread. Also anyone that has replied to you will show up on a self-search.

39 posted on 10/08/2001 2:53:00 PM PDT by quietolong
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Comment #40 Removed by Moderator


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