A quiet hero

As time moves on events and people slowly fade from memory and we fail to carry the stories of the past to our children and grandchildren. One of those stories is that of Sgt. Alvin York.

Born and raised in a log cabin in the mountains of Tennessee, York took on the responsibility for the family after his father died. He developed a reputation as a violent drunk whose mother and pastor encouraged him to be a better Christian.

The United States entered WWI and used the draft to fill the ranks with soldiers. York was a draftee and reported for duty as ordered. During his processing into the army, York stated he did not want to kill someone. He twice applied for status as a conscientious objector, and he was rejected both times. York had many discussions with comrades and with officers, who convinced him that taking up arms would not violate his religious beliefs.

When York's battalion was part of an assault on Oct. 8, 1918, and they were stalled by stiff German resistance, pinned down by German machine guns and taking heavy casualties, a patrol was organized to climb the hills and attack the German position. They were successful and seized the German position and captured prisoners. Suddenly machine gun fire rained down on them again. Another position on a higher hill was covering this German position. Six Americans were killed and three were wounded. York climbed the hill and attacked the Germans.

The Germans surrendered to York, and he and his seven surviving soldiers marched 132 Germans to the rear. Sgt. York was promoted and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. A major motion picture was made about York's story and released in 1941. York used his funds and his fame to build schools in his impoverished region of Tennessee. York died at the Veterans Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sept. 2, 1964, of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Jack Dragoni attended Boston College and served in the U.S. Army in Berlin and Vietnam. He lives in Chaffee, Missouri.