Alvin York
Alvin York was an American conscientious objector who changed his views and was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat. He was a man of contradictions in many ways, not displayed in the movie starring Gary Cooper which enhanced York’s reputation during his lifetime. In his younger days, before his military service, he was well known in the area of Tennessee in which he lived as a drunkard with a propensity for brawling. He had a record of several arrests for activities linked to his drinking. At the same time he attended church every Sunday.
In 1914 Alvin had an epiphany during a revival meeting of the Church of Christ of Christian Union, which opposed all violence. This belief led him to claim to be a conscientious objector based on his religion when registering for the draft in 1917. His claim was denied and he appealed, but was drafted into the army while the appeal was pending. While in training he discussed his beliefs with his superiors and became by all reports a good soldier. After a leave he spent at home he returned to his duties convinced that he was meant to serve in the war. Later in life he denied that he had ever claimed to be a conscientious objector, or any other exemption from military service.
York was a corporal when he performed the actions which led to him being awarded the Medal of Honor. During the St. Mihiel offensive York was part of a group of eighteen men ordered to destroy German machine gun positions which were opposing the American advance. The group, under Sergeant Bernard Early, maneuvered behind the Germans and captured a headquarters position along with a group of German prisoners. As they were assembling the prisoners they came under fire from other German machine guns. Six of the Americans were killed and three wounded, leaving York as the highest ranking of the remaining men.
Leaving the remaining Americans to cover the prisoners, York slipped around the machine gun position to put it under fire. After killing several of the Germans with his rifle six of the enemy attempted to charge his position and overwhelm him. York killed all six with his pistol, by then his rifle was empty of ammunition. Having lost several men and not knowing the strength of the enemy assaulting his position, the German officer in charge surrendered to York, calling out to him in English. York mustered the Germans with the previously taken prisoners under guard of his men and together they escorted all of the prisoners behind the American lines. There were 132 prisoners in total.
York received the Medal of Honor and the French equivalent, the Croix de Guerre, for his assault of the machine gun position and capture of the German prisoners. The French also awarded him the Legion of Honor and the Military Medal. Despite his actions York remained unknown in the United States until his story was told in a 1919 issue of the Saturday Evening Post. During World War II he tried to enlist but at the age of 54 and suffering from diabetes he was deemed unfit for service. He died in 1964 after many years of increasing health problems. Today his farm in Tennessee is a National Park.