Alvin York

Infobox Military Person
name= Alvin Cullum York
born= birth date|1887|12|13
died= Death date and age|1964|9|2|1887|12|13
placeofbirth= Pall Mall, Tennessee
placeofdeath= Nashville, Tennessee
placeofburial=


caption= Sergeant Alvin York
nickname= "Sergeant York"
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank= corporal (at the time of Medal of Honor action), sergeant (at end of war), Colonel (Tennessee State Guard WW II rank)
commands= 7th Regiment, Tennessee State Guard
unit= 82nd Infantry Division
battles= World War I *Meuse-Argonne Offensive
awards= Medal of Honor French Legion of Honor French Croix de Guerre Italian Croce di Guerra Italian War medal Montenegro Croce di Guerra Montenegro War medal
laterwork=

Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887 – September 2, 1964) was a United States soldier, famous as a World War I hero. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking 32 machine guns, killing 28 German soldiers and capturing 132 others during the U.S.-led Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France.

Early years

Alvin Cullum York was born to an impoverished farming family in Tennessee on December 13, 1887, the third of eleven children."Trust amidst doubt and adversity: The Testimony of Alvin C York".] Up until a few years before the war, York was hard drinking and prone to fighting in saloons. His mother, a member of a pacifist Christian denomination, tried to convince York to change his ways to no avail. Then during a night of heavy drinking when he and a friend got into a fight with other saloon patrons, York's friend was killed. The event shook York so much that he finally followed his mother and became a Christian, no longer fighting or drinking. On June 5, 1917, at the age of 29, Alvin York received a notice to register for the draft. From that day until he arrived back from the War on May 29, 1919, he kept a diary of his activities.cite web
accessdate=2007-10-23
url=http://www.medalofhonor.com/Sgt.York.htm
title=Sergeant York Biography
publisher=MedalofHonor.com]

York belonged to the Christian sect the Church of Christ in Christian Union which, despite having no specific doctrine of pacificism, discouraged warfare and violence. [cite web |accessdate=2008-06-10 |url=http://www.workersforjesus.com/york.htm |title=Tennessee's "Christian Warrior" |publisher=workersforjesus.com] According to documentation (see image), York did apply for CO status but was not approved.

World War I 1917–1918

York was inducted into the United States Army and served in Company G, 328th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division at Camp Gordon, Georgia. Discussion of the Biblical stance on war with his company commander, Captain Edward Courtney Bullock Danforth (1894–1974) of Augusta, Georgia and his battalion commander, Major Gonzalo Edward Buxton (1880–1949) of Providence, Rhode Island, eventually convinced York that warfare could be justified."Trust amidst doubt and adversity: The Testimony of Alvin C York".]

During a mission to secure the German Decauville rail-line on October 8, 1918, York's actions earned him the Medal of Honor. He recalled:

Seventeen men under the command of Sergeant Bernard Early (which included York) infiltrated behind the German lines to take out the machine guns. The group worked their way behind the Germans and overran the headquarters of a German unit, capturing a large group of German soldiers who were preparing to counter-attack against the US troops. Early’s men were contending with the prisoners when machine gun fire suddenly peppered the area, killing six Americans, Corp. Murray Savage, and Pvts. Maryan E. Dymowski, Ralph E. Weiler, Fred Waring, William Wins and Walter E. Swanson, and wounding three others, Sgt. Early, Corp. William S. Cutting (AKA Otis B. Merrithew) and Pvt. Mario Muzzi. The fire came from German machine guns on the ridge, which turned their weapons on the US soldiers. The loss of the nine put Corporal York in charge of the seven remaining U.S. soldiers, Privates Joseph Konotski (Kornacki), Percy Beardsley, Feodor Sok, Thomas C. Johnson, Michael A. Saccina, Patrick Donohue and George W. Wills. As his men remained under cover, and guarding the prisoners, York worked his way into position to silence the German machine guns. York recalled:

One of York’s prisoners, German first lieutenant Paul Jürgen Vollmer of 1st Battalion, 120th Württemberg Landwehr Regiment [http://gs19.inmotionhosting.com/~milita8/cmh/member/member.cgi/read/5570] , emptied his pistol trying to kill York while he was contending with the machine guns. Failing to injure York, and seeing his mounting losses, he offered to surrender the unit to York, which was gladly accepted. By the end of the engagement, York and his seven men marched 132 German prisoners back to the American lines. His actions silenced the German machine guns and were responsible for enabling the 328th Infantry Regiment to renew the offensive to capture the Decauville Railroad.Mastriano, Douglas, "Brave Hearts under Red Skies".]

York was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism, but this was upgraded to the Medal of Honor, which was presented to York by the commanding general of the American Expeditionary Force, General John J. Pershing. The French Republic awarded him the Croix de Guerre and Legion of Honor. Italy and Montenegro awarded him the Croce di Guerra and War Medal, respectively.

York was a corporal during the action. His promotion to sergeant was part of the honor for his valor. Of his deeds York said to his division commander, General Duncan, in 1919: "A higher power than man power guided and watched over me and told me what to do."

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company G, 328th Infantry, 82nd Division. Place and date: Near Chatel-Chehery, France, October 8, 1918. Entered service at: Pall Mall, Tenn. Born: December 13, 1887, Fentress County, Tenn. G.O. No.: 59, W.D., 1919.

Citation:

:After his platoon 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 machine gun nest which was pouring deadly and incessant fire upon his platoon. In this heroic feat the machine gun nest was taken, together with 4 officers and 128 men and several guns."York, Alvin C.", (Medal of Honor citation), CMH.]

Post-war life

On June 7, 1919, York married Gracie Williams. They had 7 children, all of whom were named after famous American historical figures.

York founded the Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute, a private agricultural school in Jamestown, Tennessee, that was eventually turned over to the State of Tennessee. The school, now known as Alvin C. York Institute, is the only fully state-funded public high school in the State of Tennessee. The school is a nationally recognized school of excellence and boasts the highest high school graduation percentage in the state. It is home to almost 800 students.

York also opened a Bible School, and later operated a mill in Pall Mall on the Wolf River.

During World War II he attempted to re-enlist in the Infantry but was denied due to age. Instead he went on bond tours and made personal appearances to support the war effort. He convinced the state of the need for a reserve force at home and was active in the creation of the Tennessee State Guard in 1941, in which he served as a Colonel and Commanding Officer of the 7th Infantry Regiment. He was also involved with recruiting and war bond drives as well as inspection tours of American soldiers in training.

Alvin York died at the Veterans Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 2, 1964, of a cerebral hemorrhage and was buried at the Wolf River Cemetery in Pall Mall."Alvin Collum York", "Find-A-Grave".]

Awards

*Medal of Honor
*Distinguished Service Cross
*World War I Victory Medal
*American Campaign Medal
*World War II Victory Medal
*French Légion d'honneur
*French Croix de guerre with Palm
*Italian Croce di Guerra
*Montenegrin War Medal

Legacy

;Alvin C. York Veterans Hospital: Located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

;Alvin C. York Institute: Founded as a private agricultural high school in 1926 by Alvin York and residents of Fentress County, the school became public in 1937 due to the Depression and continues to serve as Jamestown's high school.

;1941 film:York's story was told in the 1941 movie "Sergeant York", with Gary Cooper in the title role. York refused to authorize a film version of his life story unless he received a contractual guarantee that Cooper would be the actor to portray him. Cooper won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

;York Avenue, NYC: York Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan was named for the Sergeant in 1928.cite news|accessdate=2007-10-23
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/07/nyregion/thecity/07fyi.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
title=The Great Race — "A Tennesseean Honored"
author=Pollak, Michael
work=New York Times |date=2005-08-07]

;M-247 (DIVAD weapon system): In the 1980s, the United States Army named its DIVAD weapon system "Sergeant York"; the project was cancelled due to technical problems and massive cost overruns.cite journal|accessdate=2007-10-23
url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,959780,00.html
title=No More Time for Sergeant York
author=Wilentz, Amy
work=TIME magazine
date=September 9, 1985]

;U.S. Postal Service Distinguished Soldiers stamp: On May 5, 2000, the United States Postal Service issued the "Distinguished Soldiers" stamps, in which York was honored.cite web|accessdate=2007-10-23
url=http://www.usps.com/images/stamps/2000/soldiers.htm
title=Distinguished Soldiers
work=America's 2000 Stamp Program
publisher=United States Postal Service]

;Laura Cantrell song: Laura Cantrell's song "Old Downtown" mentions York in depth.cite web|accessdate=2007-10-23
url=http://www.matadorrecords.com/laura_cantrell/biography.html
title=Laura Cantrell Biography
date=2005-06-21
publisher=Matador Records]

;President Reagan funeral procession: The riderless horse in the funeral procession of President Ronald Reagan was named Sergeant York.cite web|accessdate=2007-10-23
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_25_228/ai_n6126991
title=A proud performer after all
author=Kindred, Dave |date=2004-06-21
work=The Sporting News
author=Dave Kindred]

;82nd Airborne theater: The 82nd Airborne Division's movie theater at Fort Bragg, North Carolina is named York Theater.cite web|accessdate=2007-10-23
url=http://www.aafes.com/ems/conus/bragg.htm
title=Ft Bragg — York Theatre
publisher=Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES)]

;Sergeant York Historic Trail: "The Sergeant York Historic Trail is being constructed under the supervision of LTC Douglas Mastriano and the Sergeant York Discovery Expedition in the Argonne, so that all visitors to the Argonne can walk where York walked. Boy Scout troops have already started work on the trail. All French officials in the region approved the trail and the locations of markers. A large dedication ceremony will be done on the spot of York's feat in a date TBD. A large contingent from the French military and the US Army are expected."cite web|accessdate=2007-10-23
url=http://www.sgtyorkdiscovery.com/SYDE_NEWS.php
title=York trail-work begins! SYDE honors York, soldiers and preserves a piece of history
work=SYDE News
publisher=Sergeant York Discovery Expedition] cite web|accessdate=2007-10-23
url=http://www.sgtyorkdiscovery.com/SYDE_NEWS.php|title=Historic Trail
publisher=Sergeant York Project]

;Football trophy: The traveling American football trophy between Austin Peay, UT Martin, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech is called the Alvin C. York trophy.cite web|accessdate=2007-10-23
url=http://media.www.theallstate.com/media/storage/paper801/news/2007/10/03/Sports/The-New.Sergeant.York.Trophy.Series-3009039.shtml
title=The New Sergeant York Trophy Series
author=Scott, Marlon
date=2007-10-03
work=The All State]

;229th Military Intelligence Battalion hall: The 229th US Army Military Intelligence Battalion, Alpha Company, Monterey California, dedicated their soldier's hall in honor of SGT York. COL Gerald York (US Army, retired, grandson of Alvin York) officiated at the dedication ceremony.Fact|date=October 2007

;Sergeant Alvin C. York Statue: A monumental sized statue of York by sculptor Felix de Weldon was placed on the grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol in 1968.

;Alvin C. York Memorial: A modest bronze helmet rests atop a stone flag on the grounds of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. A poem on this monument is dedicated to York.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I

Notes

References

*cite web|accessdate=
url=http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/worldwari.html
title=York, Alvin C. (Medal of Honor citation)
work=Medal of Honor Recipients — World War I
publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH)

*cite web
accessdate=
url=http://www.sgtyorkdiscovery.com/Home_Page.php
title=Trust amidst doubt and adversity: The Testimony of Alvin C York
work=The Sergeant York Discovery Expedition

*cite web
accessdate=2006-03-06
url=http://www.sgtyorkdiscovery.com/The_SYDE_Story.php
title=The SYDE Story
work=The Sergeant York Discovery Expedition

*cite book
author=York, Alvin
title=Sergeant York: His Own Life Story and War Diary
location=Garden City, NY
publisher=Doubleday, Doran
year=1928

*findagrave|1135 Retrieved on 2007-10-21.

*cite book
author=Wheeler, Richard (editor)
title= Sergeant York and the Great War
publisher=Mantle Ministries
location=Bulverde, TX
year=1998
note=pp. 58-60

*cite book
author=Trulock, Alice
title=In the Hands of Providence
publisher=University of North Carolina Press
year=1992
page=340

*cite web|accessdate=
url=http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/York/biography.html
title=Alvin C. York
author=Williams, Gladys
publisher=York Institute
archivedate=2005-03-26
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050326202450/http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/York/biography.html

* Dr. Gustav Strohm, Die Württembergishchen Regimenter im Weltkrieg 1914–1918
* Das Württembergishche Landwehr Infanterie Regiment (Belser Verlasbuchhandklung; 1922)
* Baden-Württemberg Hauptstaatsarchiv I Landwehr Regiment Kriegstagebuch
* Baden-Württemberg Hauptstaatsarchiv — II Landwehr Regiment Kriegstagebuch
* Baden-Württemberg Hauptstaatsarchiv — III Landwehr Regiment Kriegstagebuch
* Baden-Württemberg Hauptstaatsarchiv Kriegsrangeliste
* Baden-Württemberg Hauptstaatsarchiv, Landwehr Regiment Kriegstagebuch
* Baden-Württemberg Hauptstaatsarchiv I.5 Landwehr Regiment Kriegstagebuch
* Baden-Württemberg Hauptstaatsarchiv, II.5 Landwehr Regiment Kriegstagebuch

External links

*cite web|accessdate=2008-10-04
url=http://good-times.webshots.com/album/567679466YMHvhf
title=Pictures of Sergeant York Trail inauguration

*cite web|accessdate=2008-05-11
url=http://tnsg.us/ news & info
title=TENNESSEE STATE GUARD ESTABLISHES THE ALVIN C YORK AWARD, the web address does not change when navigating and a direct link was not available, from the main page click "news & info" then click the link entitled "TENNESSEE STATE GUARD ESTABLISHES THE ALVIN C YORK AWARD" and scroll to middle of article for text concerning York's State Guard affiliation.

*cite web|accessdate=2005-08-06
url=http://www.sgtyork.org
title=Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation

*cite web|accessdate=2008-03-03
url=http://www.sgtyorkdiscovery.com
title=Sergeant York Discovery Expedition - Builders of the SGT York Trail

*cite web|accessdate=2006-03-10
url=http://www.voicenet.com/~lpadilla/york.html
title=Alvin Cullum York (1887–1964)
work=Medal of Honor Recipients Portrayed On Film

*cite web|accessdate=2005-08-06
url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/100571.aspx
title=CBN — Proof offered for the Location of York's Fight

*cite web|accessdate=2006-03-10
url=http://www.tac-bsa.org/meuse_argonne_sgt_york.pdf
title=Sergeant Alvin York — walking in his footsteps
author=Mastriano, Douglas
work=BSA Tranatlantic Council|format=PDF

*cite web|accessdate=2006-05-16
url=http://www.archives.gov/southeast/exhibit/popups.php?p=4.1.11
title=Photograph of Alvin York and his Selective Service Registration Card
work=Records of the Selective Service System (World War I)
publisher=U.S. National Archives

*cite web|accessdate=2006-08-29
url=http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/19117
title="Sergeant York And His People"
author=Cowan, Sam
year=1922
publisher=Project Gutenberg

*cite web|accessdate=
url=http://acacia.pair.com/Acacia.Vignettes/The.Diary.of.Alvin.York.html
title="The Diary of Alvin York"
author=York, Alvin C.

*cite web|accessdate=2007-02-16
url=http://www.historynet.com/wars_conflicts/world_war_1/3717286.html
title="Alvin York and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive"
author= Mastriano, LtCol. Douglas
work=Military History
month=September | year=2006

*cite journal
url=http://www.armchairgeneral.com/wordpress/wp-content/features/2007/july2007/july07index.htm
accessdate=2007-10-23
title=Battlefield Detective: Sergeant York Fought Here!
author=Mastriano, LtCol. Douglas
journal=Armchair General
date=June/July 2007

*cite news|accessdate=2007-03-09
url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/26/news/york.php/
work=International Herald Tribune
title=Proof offered of Sergeant York's war exploits
author=Smith, Craig S. (The New York Times)
date=2006-10-26 Article announcing the discovery of the site where York earned the Medal of Honor.

*cite web|accessdate=2007-08-16
url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykxFFUziQGc
title=News covereage of the discovery of the site where SGT York earned the Medal of Honor
publisher=YouTube
* [http://state.tn.us/environment/parks/SgtYork/ Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park web site]
* [http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/04/08/york.shtml Special report and slideshow on Alvin York from "The Tennessean", Nashville, TN]
*worldcat id|id=lccn-n84-48479

*cite web|accessdate=2006-03-14
url=http://www.tntech.edu/publicaffairs/rel/2006/march06/yorksite.html
title=Tennesse Tech. University historian teams with Middle Tennessee State University geographer to discover site of Sgt. York's World War 1 heroics. University news release interpreting their own GPS/ GIS surveys, as performed by historians and senior academics of TTU/ MTSU.

Persondata
NAME= York, Alvin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=