Memorial Day Remembrance: Sgt Alvin York WW1 American Hero

Memorial Day Remembrance: Sgt Alvin York WWI American Hero by Paul Camuti 05/12/2026

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 KJV

‍ ‍The Memorial Day weekend is coming upon us in a few weeks. It is a day to honor Veteran's that made the ultimate sacrifice, the giving up of their own lives in order to save the lives of others and for America. Although it is a day of remembering those who sacrificed their lives in battle to preserve freedom for others, personally I also think it is fitting to honor those who survived, but put themselves in harms way. Not to diminish the sacrifice of those who laid down their lives in battle. However, there are those who put their lives on the line that were able to survive.

One such hero I'm bringing to remembrance is Sgt. Alvin C. York who fought in World War I. He was a backwoods farmer born in Tennessee who became a decorated hero during WWI. His life is portrayed in the film, Sgt. York. Actor Gary Cooper portrayed Sgt. York and won his first Oscar for Best Actor. In fact, when he was approached about a movie being made about him, Alvin York, being the humble man that he was, would only allow the film to be made under one condition...that it would be Gary Cooper that portrayed him.

When Sgt York was growing up, he was a hard drinking, rabble-rousing, trouble maker. However, he regularly attended church and sometimes led hymn singing. The movie shows that Alvin York got drunk one night and was on his way to kill a man for cheating out of some land. He was riding his mule during an instense thunder and lightning storm on the way to kill the man, when lighting struck the metal part of his rifle, throwing him off the mule, and thowing the mule to the other side of the path he was on. He got up from the ground, remounted the mule, rode to the church that he attended and accepted the Lord. It is a great scene, but that is not what happened. Just a side note, actor Walter Brennan portrayed Alvin York's pastor, and looked exactly like the pastor!

Alvin York's conversion to Christianity happened as a result of a revival the church was having. It was on the last night of the revival, in which on New Year's Day 1915, he gave his life to Jesus Christ due to his best friend having been killed in a bar room brawl. According to Alvin York he felt, “As if lightning struck my soul.”

In 1914 Europe was already engulfed in WWI (World War I). Alvin York accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior on the very first day of the year 1915. At a lecture Alvin York gave later in his life, he mentioned that when the war broke at in Europe he said, “I was worried clean through. I didn't want to go and kill because I believed in my Bible.”

In the year 1917 when Alvin York was 29 years of age, he registered for the draft. As he filled out the form, one of the questions was if he wanted to claim exemption from the draft. He answered, “Yes. Don't want to fight.” His request was denied, in which he appealed. Interestingly enough, during WWI

conscientious objection status did not exempt someone from military duty. He was subsequently drafted in November in 1917.

Although deeply disturbed due to Alvin York's turmoil between his pacifism and training for war, he spoke with his superiors. One of his superiors was Major G. Edward Buxton who was also a devout Christian. Alvin York was given a ten day leave to visit his home to pray and read the Bible. It was during that time Alvin York returned to duty believing that God meant for him to fight, and that God would keep him safe.

On October 8, 1918 the battalion Alvin York was in was ordered to German positions at Hill 223 which was nearby the Decauville railroad in France. According to Alvin York's detailed diary, the activities he mentioned was verified by other reports that witnessed to action. He stated that the Germans opened fire with heavy machine gun fire that stopped their advancement. The machine gunners were well hidden. Alvin York mentioned that some of the men were mowed down like high grass by a mowing machine.

Then, Corporal Bernard Early, who was an Acting Sgt, ordered Alvin York, three other non-commissioned officers, and thirteen privates to infiltrate the German lines and take out the machine guns. Although they successfully got behind the Germans and overran the headquarters of the German unit, while they were contending with the German prisoners, German machine gun fire exploded and killed six Americans and wounded three others. Some of the remaining Americans returned fire while others guarded the German prisoners.

Alvin York managed to get into an advantageous position. He fired back at the Germans. He wrote that he did not have time to get behind a tree or hide into brush. As soon as the Germans fired at him, he fired back at them. Alvin York was an exceptional marksman. As soon as a German's head looked up to aim at him, he fired and killed him. This repeated several times. Alvin York said he kept calling out for them to surrender because he did not want to keep killing them.

At one point, a German officer led several Germans in an attack towards Alvin York. He shot several of them with his pistol. It was reported that Imperial Army First Lieutenant, Paul Jurgen Vollmer emptied out his pistol trying to kill Alvin York while York was contending with the machine gunners. He failed to even injure Alvin York. When the German Lieutenant saw his mounting losses, he offered to surrender in English to York, which York accepted.

Brigadier General Julian Robert Lindsey said, “Well York, I hear you have captured the whole German Army.” Alvin York answered, “No sir, I only got 132.” When asked how did he do it, Alvin York replied, “A higher power than man guided and watched over me and told me what to do.” Lindsey answered, “York, you are right.”

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. Psalm 91:1-3 KJV

Alvin York was promoted to Sergeant, and was rewarded with the Medal of Honor, Croix de Guerre, Medaille Militaire, The Legion of Honor from France, as well as medals from Italy. Sgt Alvin York received nearly 50 decorations. He was one of the most decorated soldiers of WWI.

After returning to America from the war, Sgt Alvin York, who had been transformed from rabble-rousing, heavy drinking rebellious young man, to a God loving, God fearing, God worshiping man, refused numerous offers to profit from his fame. He was offered thousands of dollars for appearances, product endorsements, newspaper articles, and movie rights to his life story. What Alvin York did do was loan his name to charitable and civic causes. The type of hero Sgt Alvin York proved himself to be, is certainly to be a solider remembered on this coming Memorial Day. All those, alive and no longer with us should also certainly be remembered. What is more, the families who have lost, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends, aunts and uncles-they need to be remembered too, because in their own way their sacrifices were and are no less great. Love and God bless, Pastor Paul.