Posted on 06/05/2014 5:47:30 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
They were both sergeants. Neither liked war, one being a pacifist. But both served, one in Afghanistan, the other in World War I.
Yet Bowe Bergdahl and Alvin York could not possibly be more different. And that difference speaks directly to a difference in character that wound up having a decided effect on each man’s comrades in arms. A difference in character that former Army Lt. Col. Ralph Peters nails exactly in a superb piece in National Review. But first — Sergeant York.
Not many people mention Sergeant Alvin York these days. But they should. In fact, as the tenth anniversary of the death of former President Reagan is remembered, it is notable that the riderless horse prancing behind Reagan’s flag-draped casket was named “Sergeant York.”
[SNIP]
.....Alvin York’s valorous efforts that day astonished everyone around him. When York and his six surviving comrades arrived back at their battalion, the commanding officer was incredulous, saying: “Well York, looks like you captured the whole damned German Army.” Asked how many prisoners he had, York replied: “I don’t rightly know.” A count was taken and the answer was 128 soldiers and 4 commissioned officers — 132 prisoners. Another quick count was taken. There were between 20-25 dead Germans taken out by York and his comrades, with his personal deadly aim credited for 9 of them.
Very shortly thereafter Corporal York was promoted to Sergeant York and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. An investigation into his actions was conducted. On December 31, 1919, another award was issued. General of the Army John “Black Jack” Pershing personally awarded York the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:.......
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Not in the same sentence, please.
We know what deserters look like, we don’t need the comparison.
2 1/2 more years of this.
Personally, I think it is an insult to York’s legacy to even make the comparison.
Something tells me Baby Bowe’s parents never showed him a dvd of “Sergeant York.” I’m old enough to have sat up for it on the Late, Late, Late, Late Show (2:30am).
It’s funny - it did make me sick to see the headline. It would be kind of nice if it was changed.
From what I’ve heard, Bergdahl was a PFC when he defected.
It is an outrage.
I am sick of these people messing around with our history and culture.
what ever
The opening line of this article is wrong. They were not both sergeants.
Bergdahl was a PFC, and his promotions came after he deserted. The military treated him as a POW and POWs are automatically promoted at the time they are eligible. That is standard policy.
An example is Matt Maupin, who truly was taken captive and eventually executed. I believe during the time before his exact situation was known that he was promoted from Specialist to Staff Sergeant. His service, however, was honorable.
Cpl York, on the other hand, was a soldier in good standing who was legitimately promoted to sergeant.
How does someone of his caliber make Sergent?
Read the piece. It’s great.
Let us conduct a D-Day thought experiment. What if, in 1948, with the NAZI, and other Axis leaders, in complete and secure Spandau Prison custody, Harry Truman, would have suspended, the Nuremberg War Criminal Trials? What if, after a few months, Harry Truman, had conducted a prisoner exchange with Switzerland, for Martin Bormann, Admiral Dornitz, Rudolf Hess, Heinrich Himmler, and Joseph Goebbels? And what if the prisoner, that we got in exchange for these top leaders was Tokyo Rose?
What do you think that Dwight D. Eisenhower would do? What would General Happ Arnold do? What would Douglas McArthur Do? What would General Omar Bradley do? What would Private Ernie Pyle do? What would Walter Cronkite do? Do you think that they would put on all their medals, or put on a tuxedo, and share the same room with Harry Truman? Shake hands, sip cocktails, break bread?
When you, over the next few days, listen to politicians, Generals, Ambassadors, commentators, potentates, and others, extoll the virtues of the “Greatest Generation” realize, that NONE OF THESE POSERS is even fit, to mention the name of a Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Happ Arnold, or even the lowest buck private that cleaned the latrines back on base. They are worse than the dregs of history. They are Taliban Quislings.
Very weak start to a very weak comparison.
Bergdahl’s family is proof positive that the rot or health of a nation starts in the HOME. I’ll bet this deserter was also told he could “choose” his religion when he came of age. Unlike most of decent Americans who were happily force fed a Christian or Jewish upbringing.
This article is long but a must read on this entire Bergdahl scandal.
Awesome read. Thanks for posting.
This article is all about the contrast, not the comparison. imho.
My father and Grandfather (who were from East TN) met and talked with Sgt. York (and York's sons) several times over the years at York's store in Pall Mall, TN. In fact, my mother still has the knives that my dad (deceased) bought from the York store a long, long time ago.
York was a great, humble man who even provided funds for a school that still exists in this poor, but beautiful part of TN. Helping the people of his community (and not fame) was what was important to him.
Meanwhile, Bergdahl should be in Leavenworth.
“What do you think that Dwight D. Eisenhower would do?”
Imagine a US prisoner returned from the pacific, and his father at the white house speaking Japanese and saying “long live the Emperor”
Imagine a US prisoner returned from Europe, with his father at the white house speaking German and giving a “sieg heil” salute.
My father and grandfather were veterans. This traitor trash Bergdahl disgusts me to no end, and I know the current administration will not allow him to be tried and punished.
Excellent observation.
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