#564 Sergeant York
Fun Fact #564
Sergeant York
Our next person from history that was built differently, takes us to Fentress County, Tennessee in 1917. It was here that an uneducated blacksmith named Alvin York was working on fixing a customer’s automobile when he was informed he had been drafted for The US Army in “The War to End All Wars” (World War 1). Just one problem, Alvin York was a pacifist and immediately filed the paperwork to become a conscientious objector to avoid direct combat. Upon reaching Training Captain Danforth Jr. would discuss the Bible with him (specifically Luke 22:37, Matthew 22:21, Ephesians 6:10-18 and John 18:36) after which Alvin changed his mind to become fight as a Peacemaker (someone fighting to protect others).
While at first York was not taken seriously he quickly proved himself as an accomplished sniper, Tracker, Mountaineer, and Tactician which quickly resulted in him being promoted to Private First Class. While he had several exploits during the war one which earned him a Medal of Honor comes from when Private (Acting Corporal) York and 17 others were sent to infiltrate enemy lines and silence a German Machine Gun post.
Things went sideways shortly thereafter when they ran into the relocated headquarters of a German unit with a force preparing for a counterattack. Six of P. York’s men died when the Machine gun spun around to face them. Pvt. York then began taking out the Enemy all the while shouting for The Germans to surrender. While his pleas fell upon deaf ears he did realize the Machine Gunner had been left undefended from the front so he attempted to take control of the gun. Imperial Lieutenant Paul Vollmer attempted to intercede firing an entire pistol at Private York at close range, only for the Private to turn the Machine gun –now firmly under his control– at the Lieutenant and order him to surrender. Lt. Vollmer agreed and told his troops to do so as well after Pvt York Aimed the gun to face them. York and his 7 remaining men then returned to American lines with the prisoners carrying the deceased. Upon reporting in, Brigadier General Lindsey said “Well York, I hear you Captured the whole German Army.” To which York replied “No Sir, I only got 132.”
After the war The now Sergeant York helped form The American Legion, built the first School in his community, and became a Superintendent for The Civilian Conservation Corps which provided jobs for citizens during the Great Depression. Then as trouble brewed in Europe, Private York became one of the few intervention advocates for US Entry into the war “We must fight again! The time is not now ripe, nor will it ever be, to compromise with Hitler, or the things he stands for." and served as an Army recruiter after he was denied reenlistment as a 54 year old, overweight diabetic with Arthritis.
Today Sergeant York is remembered as one of the most highly decorated Serviceman in The First World War, an advocate of Education, and as a Peacemaker.
Sergeant ALvin C. York by Frank Schoonover
