Alvin C. York A Hero Analysis

When you hear the word ‘veteran’ what immediately comes to mind? Perhaps a popular war hero or someone who has served in the military. The official definition of a veteran is, “a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war.” And while many think of people with superhuman traits like Superman or Captain America when they think of heroes, the official definition of hero is, “a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character.” One person that best represents both terms is Alvin C. York. He presents all of the characteristics of a hero including a few that I also deem to be of heroic material. He is known for his courageous acts in the battle of Hill 223 as well as his noble acts of charity funding and the building of a school so that there could be more educational opportunities in his region. York also is as merciful as he can be and tries to spare as many lives as possible, going so far as to attempt to spare the men that are firing at him with machine guns and who have killed his fellow troops.

Alvin York was born in Pall Mall, Tennessee to a poor family with ten other

children. He attempted to go to school and succeeded for nine months before his father required all children to work on the farm and hunt small game. This need to hunt honed York’s marksmanship, which would help him out later in his life. When York’s father died in 1911, York helped his mother raise his siblings as he was the oldest sibling still living in the country. In an attempt to help his family York worked in Harriman, Tennessee first as a railroad worker then as a logger. York was drafted into the US army on June 5, 1917, and served in Company G, 328th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division at Camp Gordon, Georgia. During this time York struggled between his pacifism and his training for war and spoke often about it to his company commander Captain Edward Courtney Bullock Danforth, who was as devout a Christian as York was. Captain Edward eventually persuaded York that his actions were acceptable by quoting scripture such as, "He that hath no sword, let him sell his cloak and buy one." and "... if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight."
In October of 1918 York went with his battalion to capture German positions near Hill 223 along the Decauville rail line north of Chatel-Chéhéry, France. During this attack, York and thirteen privates were ordered to infiltrate German lines to take out the enemy machine guns that were causing severe damage to the troops. The group quickly worked themselves behind the Germans and overran the headquarters of a German unit. This particular German unit was plotting a counter-attack against the Americans and, when York and the other men returned with the prisoners, the Germans on the other side opened fire on them. The enemy killed six men and wounded three more in a couple moments, leaving Sergeant Bernard Early with nine men left to command. As the rest of the men guarded the prisoners, York worked his way back around the German troops again in hope of silencing the machine guns. The Germans started firing on York, and he began shooting back. Even during this time York recalled that he called to the Germans to come down because he didn’t wish to kill any more men than he had to. During this attack, six Germans charged York with bayonets in an attempt to kill him at a closer range. York, however, took out an M1911 automatic pistol and shot the six Germans before they could even get close to him. After seeing so many of his men killed, the First Lieutenant of the German troops attempted even harder to kill York but, when he failed, offered to surrender. York accepted this offer and marched the 132 remaining German troops back to the American lines as prisoners.
Immediately after York’s return after this incredible battle, York was promoted to Sergeant and received the Distinguished Service Cross. A few months after this event, an investigation took place that resulted in York’s Distinguished Service Cross being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. During this investigation York was quoted to say, “A higher power than man guided and watched over me and told me what to do.” After receiving his Medal of Honor, York was again awarded, this time by the French Republic. He received the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honour. Italy also rewarded York for his bravery and gave him the Croce al Merito di Guerra while Montenegro presented him with its War Medal. Even after these, York received many more decorations and reached a grand total of nearly 50 decorations. However, before York came home he accomplished one last thing. Before leaving France, York was his division's noncommissioned officer delegate to the convention which created the American Legion.
York was recognized for his heroism in 1919 by the U.S press. After this event, he became a local hero and went to a couple formal banquets and on a couple tours. After all of the celebrations, York proceeded to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. While there York was discharged from service and sent back to his home in Tennessee. On June 7, 1919, barely a week after his return to Tennessee, York was married to his wife Gracie Loretta Williams. Almost directly after the wedding, there were more celebrations for York including a week trip to Nashville. There he received yet another special award for his bravery and heroism. Although York received many offers for money and product endorsements, he refused to accept any of them instead giving his name to multiple charitable and civic causes. Although he denied movie rights, York did tell his life story twice during the 1920’s. A couple years later York teamed up with Tom Skeyhill and wrote an autobiography titled Sergeant York: His Own Life Story and War Diary. York funded a highway to support economic development which was named appropriately, ‘Alvin C. York Highway.’ York also funded and set up a school that opened in 1929 in hopes of increasing educational opportunities in his region of Tennessee. Around 1953 York reached the end of his time at his school and began to work with the Civilian Conservation Corps overseeing the creation of Cumberland Mountain State Park's Byrd Lake until 1940.
When World War II rolled around, York attempted to re-enlist in the army. But time had taken its toll and left York 54, overweight, nearly diabetic, and with hints of arthritis, leaving him unable to be drafted back into the army. York was instead commissioned as a major in the Army Signal Corps and toured training camps and participated in bond drives in support of the war effort, usually paying his own travel expenses. During this time, York began funding war charities including Red Cross. He served on his county draft board, and when literacy requirements forced the rejection of large numbers of Fentress County men, he offered to lead a battalion of illiterates himself, saying they were "crack shots."
Sadly, York died shortly after the movie made about his life was released. In 1964 he was admitted to Veteran’s Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. It was soon discovered that the cause of his trip to the hospital was a cerebral hemorrhage. York died while still in the hospital of the same cerebral hemorrhage that put him there on September 2, 1964.
All of these events enforce how much of a real-life hero that Alvin C.

York was as well as the amazing things he achieved. They also emphasize how normal people can be heroes and make an incredible difference. When you look at York and look at how his hometown was affected, you begin to realize that he was not only a hero on the battlefield but a hero off it as well. The things that York went through and how he reacted defined who he was and why he is considered a hero. With this in mind, realize that what you do has consequences and you can be a hero without going into battle and without even leaving your hometown. Look around your hometown and perhaps you will notice the everyday people that have made a difference and are entirely deserving of the title of a hero and thank them for making the world, or even just the community you’re in, a better

place.