Alvin York was born in Tennessee and took on the role of providing for his family after his father passed away in 1911. He took a career in railroad construction and later logging; yet despite his dedication to his job, his faith, and his family, he was also a violent alcoholic who was arrested on several accounts. This behavior finally ceased in 1915, at a revival meeting for the Church of Christ in Christian Union. The church had its groundings in anti-Civil War pacifism, and when he was obliged to register for the national draft, he claimed exemption on the grounds of his new beliefs.
In the 1920s, York also created the Alvin C. York Foundation with the aim of increasing education opportunities in northern Tennessee, but during the Great Depression, the government failed to assist financially, and York was soon ousted as president. Regardless, he continued to donate money to the cause. During World War II, York attempted to re-enlist, but he was denied and instead given the honorary rank of Colonel in the Army Signal Corps, a role that he played extremely well. Upon his return home, he finally allowed for a film about his life, and in 1941 the movie Sergeant York debuted. Sergeant York passed away in 1964 and was buried in his hometown.
Born. | |
Father died. | |
Underwent a conversion following a revival meeting. | |
Drafted into the U.S. Army | |
Earned great recognition after a victory against the Germans in France. | |
Was discharged from the service. | |
Married Gracie Loretta Williams. | |
Went into debt while trying to pay for a farm given him by the Rotary Club. | |
Attempted to re-emlist during WWII but was instead made Colonel in the Army Signal Corps. | |
The movie Sergeant York was released. | |
Died. |
Sergeant York in | America First—100 Stories from Our History by Lawton B. Evans |
General Pershing | Leader of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. |
United States President during the First World War. Founder of the League of Nations. |