Freeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Sgt Alvin P York ~ 19 May 08

Linked In Thread | StarCMC and Beetle Bailey

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Sgt. Alvin C. York

           

BIOGRAPHY

Alvin Cullum York (1887-1964) ended the First World War as one of America's most famous soldiers, with fame and popular recognition assured following a remarkable act of courage and coolness in October 1918.

Having grown up in poverty the young York honed his skills as a crack marksman, a useful talent for use in hunting food for himself and his family - and one put to high effect during the war.

Despite his remarkable reputation for bravery and the win-at-all-costs attitude displayed during his wartime service York was and remained a pacifist.  Following a religious conversion in 1911 - he became lay deacon of a local pacifist sect - he declared himself a convinced pacifist.

Consequently with the U.S. entry into World War One York initially returned his draft papers before they were summarily resent to him by the draft board, at which stage he was drafted into 328th Regiment, 82nd Infantry.  During training however he was convinced by his battalion commander, Gonzalo Edward Buxton - a fellow Bible student - that the Bible sanctioned active service.

Once in France the semi-literate York earned lifetime fame for his part in an attack in the Argonne Forest against German machine gun positions on 8 October 1918.  York, an acting Corporal, led 17 men in action against a German stronghold, the aim being to secure the position and return with German prisoners.

Initially successful without coming under fire, the small expedition took a number of prisoners before the Germans launched a heavy counterattack.  With 11 of York's men guarding the captured prisoners (and with the other six killed) York resolved to proceed alone and tackle the German gunners ranged against them.

Having shot some 17 gunners via sniping, York was charged by seven German soldiers who realised that he was operating on his own.  He killed them all with his pistol.  With the aid of a German Major captured earlier York brought in a total of 132 German prisoners, a remarkable feat.

He was well rewarded however, receiving lavish press coverage at home and the Congressional Medal of Honor, in addition to the French Croix de Guerre (and a fulsome citation from Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch).

Returning home to a New York City parade, York was awarded a gift of a farm by his home state, Tennessee.  A film of his life was made in 1940, Sergeant York, starring Gary Cooper; York used the fee he was paid for the film to fund a Bible college.

He died in 1964.

Link

 

QUOTES

"Sir, I am doing wrong. Practicing to kill people is against my religion."

York, speaking of target practice at human silhouettes.

 

"What you did was the greatest thing accomplished by any private soldier of all the armies of Europe."

Marshall Ferdinand Foch, on York's feat in the Argonne.

 

"This uniform ain't for sale."

York, on demands for his endorsement.

 

"It's over; let's just forget about it."

York's modesty about the the event that brought him the Medal of Honor.
 

Link 

Medal of Honor Citation

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

Citation:

After his platoon had 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 machinegun nest which was pouring deadly and incessant fire upon his platoon. In this heroic feat the machinegun nest was taken, together with 4 officers and 128 men and several guns.  

Please remember, the Canteen is family friendly and we exist to support and honor our troops and their families, as well as our Allies Troops and theirs.  Thank you to every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman out there for doing what you do to keep us safe.  We are ever in your debt.  And thank you, too, to the families and friends who support them.  God bless our troops.

[SevenofNine]

Hey Kathy I tell you Hollywood story Sgt York didn’t want nobody to play him in a movie except Gary Cooper since dude had final script approval this back in da day when Movie system ran things he got his way and his choice

BOY STUFF you learn watching Turner Classic movies

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please note: The author of today's Hall of Heroes is StarCMC. Please thank her for the thread.

Sgt Alvin P York

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[skimask]

Hey Kathy. How are you?

[Radix]

2nd?

[Tanniker Smith]

Good evening!


Good night.

[Radix]

Wow,

FIRST of Nine!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Honoring Our Heroes

AbnSarge USA
Allegra
3 sons (armymarinemom and amdad)
Brett USN (CindyDawg)
Brother and Son-in-Law (kalee)
Cannoneer No. 4
Capt Jason Clendenin (friend of Frou)
Chris USA (amom)
Clarinet_King USAF (NerdDad/CDBear)
Col Mike (gpapa)
CMS USA
David USAF (LUV W)
Defender2
Deven USA (Shimmer)
Ethan USMC (georgiabelle)
Ev USA (Mozie)
Fred (DocRock)
Future Snake Eater USA (RightOnline)
GulfWar1Vet USA
Jade Falcon USN
JemiansTerror USA (Jemian)
Jet Jaguar USAF
Joel (NEMDF)
Jonathan USMC (AZbushgal)
Josh USN (doug from upland)
Karen USA (fatima's granddaughter)
KB4W USAF (arbee4bush)
Kenneth (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
Kevin USMC (skimask)
Kevin and David USA (vigilante2)
Laurita USA
LCpl Carter USMC
Lindsay (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
Lt David (Coldwater Creek)
M1911A1 USMC (M0sby)
M1Tanker
MEG33's Navy Grandson
Mike1Sg USA (mystery-ak)
Milo828 USA (mystery-ak)
Nate USN (sneakers)
Old Sarge USA
OneLoyalAmerican USCG
PFC Dan USA (son of swmobuffalo)
Robert, Jeremy, Daynnis USA (SoldierDad)
Sat-Com Chris USA (son of KC Burke)
Sgt Dusty USA (MountainDad)
Sgt Sean Reed (preed)
Sgt Spencer USA (grame)
Son USCG (GodBlessUSA)
SPC Mike USA (AbnSarge)
SSGT John Linde USA (JFoxbear)
Terrence USN (Sweetbaby/LadyPilgrim)
The Sailor
tongue-tied USN/USA
Tonkin USN/USCG
txradioguy USA
Valerie USAF (Shimmer)
Victor and Tony D USMC (weldgophardline)
William USA (jackv)

 

[Tanniker Smith]

FIRST of Nine!

And now you are Seven of Nine posts!

[The Mayor]

May 19, 2008

A Question Of Motive

The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword . . . and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. —Hebrews 4:12

My wife and I were stopped at a railroad crossing to allow a train to pass. As we waited in the line of cars, the driver next to us suddenly darted through a nearby parking lot and headed in the direction of the next available railroad crossing.

I turned to Marlene and said, with some righteous indignation, “Look at that guy. He’s trying to get around the train instead of waiting like the rest of us.” As soon as I said those words, the man, camera in hand, hopped from his car to take pictures of the oncoming train. I had judged his motives, and I was dead wrong.

Although we can observe behavior and outward appearance, only God can see what’s in the heart. That is one reason we all need the Word of God so desperately. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

When we find ourselves ready to judge another person’s motives, let’s pause and remember—only God can see the heart, and only His Word can expose its motives. Our responsibility is to let the Lord and His Word convict us about our own hearts.

The Bible is a lamp from God,
A sword of truth and light;
It searches heart and soul and mind,
And helps us know what’s right. —Bosch

People will be judged by the way God sees them not by the way we see them.

Bible in One Year: 1 Kings 1–3; Proverbs 17:1-14

[SandRat]

In late again.

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.

Prayers going up.

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Night Owl!

[BIGLOOK]

Someone of interest....ping

[laurenmarlowe]

United States Marine Corps Band~National Anthem

[Kathy in Alaska]

For those interested in sending get well cards to Jim Robinson....see below.

"Funny" is the order of the day. He is in good spirits.

Jim Robinson
PO Box 9771
Fresno, CA 93794

Jim's recent medical odyssey...check Post #1780!

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Despite everything York did for his country in France, the IRS went after him with a vengeance late in life.

The story is here:

*************************************************

More than twenty years after his return from France as the most decorated soldier of World War I, York signed a contract with Warner Brothers for a moving picture telling the story of his life. The picture, in which Gary Cooper played the part of York, was called "Sergeant York," and was released in 1941. It made him some money but not a great deal. A report from Warner Brothers covering the period from the release of the picture to March 2, 1946 shows that York's share of revenue from the movie amounted to $169,449.84.

With this money York paid off most or possibly all of his debts. In the Farm Credit Manager in 1942 he says, "I'll bet I'm the first person who ever paid off a Federal Land Bank loan with money from a movie." And in the same magazine he pats himself on the back when he says, "It's the wise farmers who get their debts in shape for anything that might happen."

But a lot of the money from the movie went into the York Bible School at Pall Mall that never did materialize. In a story in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution Magazine for May 14, 1961 York is quoted as saying of the Bible School that "I put up all the money except $2,000. . . . . it cost about $40,000."

It was the revenue from the movie that got the old soldier into a peck of trouble with the income tax people. He paid what his lawyers said he owed, but the IRS billed him for more than $85,000 after they refused to allow deductions of donations to York Institute on the grounds that it was not a charitable institution since it was supported by the state. This $85,000 finally snowballed to $172,000 with penalty and interest and became absolutely impossible for him to pay after his third cerebral hemorrhage in February, 1954. He had suffered his first in 1949, but from 1954 until his death ten years later he was a complete invalid. The IRS finally agreed to accept $25,000 as full payment of his income tax debt. This amount was raised by public subscription from people all over America who sympathized with the now totally disabled old soldier.

[mylife]

Glad to hear Jim is feeling good

[Old Sarge]

PRESENT FOR DOODY!

[Kirkwood]

York was 31 in 1918. Does anyone know if he had a wife and children when he served?