Alvin Cullum York: The Modest Warrior

Alvin Cullum York, better known as Sergeant York, is one of America’s most courageous warriors from the trenches of World War I. Alvin York’s tale speaks to the underdogs of the world, teaching them that they can rise above the labels placed on them by others. It is also a tale of inspiration, teaching us that we can change the way we live to become a greater version of ourselves. This is the story of a back country boy becoming on of the most highly decorated men of the first World War.

Early Life

Alvin Cullum York was born on the 13th of December 1887 in the backwaters of Tennessee. Alvin was the 3rd of 11 children. They all lived in relative poverty inside of a rural two room cabin. Alvin’s father was a blacksmith and farmer. Alvin York’s mother was an expert in domestic trades. The boys of the family were only allowed 9 months of schooling before being withdrawn to work the land and hunt for small game to feed the family. After the death of his father, Alvin became the head of the household and took up work in the railroad business and also as a logger. Alvin York was known to be a skilled worker but, he was notorious for his drinking. He was not a champagne saint. When drinking he became a violent drunk who enjoyed barroom fights.

Alvin York’s drinking didn’t stop him from attending church on Sundays and leading the hymns. It wasn’t until he went to a revival meeting of the Church of Christ in Christian Union that he truly became a convert. After the meeting Alvin York’s life changed to become all about hard work and God.

According to Dr. Michael Birdwell, “As York came of age he earned a reputation as a deadly accurate shot and a hell raiser. Drinking and gambling in borderline bars known as ‘Blind Tigers,’ York was generally considered a nuisance and someone who ‘would never amount to anything.’ That reputation underwent a serious overhaul when York experienced a religious conversion in 1914. In that year two significant events occurred: his best friend, Everett Delk, was killed in a bar fight in Static, Kentucky; and he attended a revival conducted by H.H. Russell of the Church of Christ in Christian Union. Delk’s senseless death convinced York that he needed to change his ways or suffer a fate similar to his fallen comrade, which prompted him to attend the prayer meeting.”

Drafted into World War 1

Then the first world war came. At the age of 29 he signed up for the draft and was soon drafted to fill the ranks of those to fight in World War I. Now, the documents prove that he originally applied for conscientious objector status. Which meant he could still be drafted, but wouldn’t be put into a combat role. The reason he listed for not wanting to enter combat was pure and simple, “Don’t want to fight.” But they denied his original application and sent him to training. While in training he came to find out that his comanding officers were also devout Christians.

Mr. York asked them all sorts of questions and often used Bible verses to back up his positions. They offered to send him home for 10 days to let him figure out what he wanted to do. When he returned he had changed his mind. He thought that it was indeed part of his destiny to be sent off to war and that the good Lord would protect him. Later on in life he would deny ever applying for conscientious objector status.

Entering World War 1

Soon after Alvin Cullum York found himself in France fighting the Germans. He was sent on a mission that would forever change his life. His battalion was given the task of capturing hill 223 in France. Alvin York, and 16 troops (including the Sergeant in charge of their group) were given the task of securing Decauville railroad near hill 223. Due to their map being in French they accidentally found themselves further behind enemy lines than they expected and in the direct line of fire.

They had a small gunfight and eventually had a large group of Germans surrender to them. Then, German soldiers on a nearby hill realized that this was only a group of 17 people, not a large force as they had thought earlier. They promptly turned their machine guns around and began firing upon the American soldiers. In only a few moments 9 American soldiers had been killed, including Mr. Yorks best friend. These deaths left Mr. York in charge of the remaining soldiers. He had them hold their positions under the protection of whatever cover they could find. Alvin York then made his way up toward the machine gun nests.

Mr. York later recalled the event: “The Germans got us, and they got us right smart. They just stopped us dead in our tracks. Their machine guns were up there on the heights overlooking us and well hidden, and we couldn’t tell for certain where the terrible heavy fire was coming from… And I’m telling you they were shooting straight. Our boys just went down like the long grass before the mowing machine at home. Our attack just faded out… And there we were, lying down, about halfway across [the valley] and those German machine guns and big shells getting us hard.” (source)

Corporal York made his way up the ridge picking off several of the machine gunners and pleading with them to put down their weapons and surrender.

“And those machine guns were spitting fire and cutting down the undergrowth all around me something awful. And the Germans were yelling orders. You never heard such a racket in all of your life. I didn’t have time to dodge behind a tree or dive into the brush… As soon as the machine guns opened fire on me, I began to exchange shots with them. There were over thirty of them in continuous action, and all I could do was touch the Germans off just as fast as I could. I was sharp shooting… All the time I kept yelling at them to come down. I didn’t want to kill any more than I had to. But it was they or I. And I was giving them the best I had.”

Then from a hidden trench six more German soldiers rushed him with bayonets. By this time his rifle was empty and he used his trusty Colt .45 automatic. He was able to kill or injure them all. The commanding German officer also tried to take a few cheap shots at York before running out of ammo. It was then that he offered to surrender, in English, to York and his fellow soldiers. When the dust finally settled 32 machine guns had been captured, 20 German soldiers had been killed and 132 had been captured.

Sergeant York: The Film

Military awards

Alvin Cullum York was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. This was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor. According to wikipedia he was also given the following awards and honors:

The Post-War Years

Upon returning home Alvin Cullum York was still relatively unknown until a newspaper with a circulation of about 2 million people published an article about him. From then on out he was continually running away from the spot light. He was offered large sums of money from movie companies to product makers to use his name, likeness and words to sell their products… but for the most part he turned them down. Now, he did use his new found fame for many charitable and forward thinking projects; especially concerning education in rural areas.

There are tons of great books that will give you a more detailed look at the life of Alvin York (we’ve linked a few below) but be sure to check your local library first! If you’d like to purchase one consider using the affiliate links below.

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