Alvin Cullum York
Alvin Cullum York (1887-1964). This native of Tennessee enlisted in the US Army in 1917 and became a sergeant in the 328th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Division.
October 8, 1918, Argonne Forest. Alvin York takes command of his section which has suffered heavy losses. Listening only to his courage and at the head of 7 men, he fearlessly attacks a machine gun nest whose deadly and continuous fire falls on his section. During this heroic action, he seized the machine gun nest, took 4 German officers and 128 soldiers prisoner and seized several rifles.
On October 8, 1918, in the Argonne forest, he single-handedly captured a battalion of German machine gunners who were holding a fortified position. On this occasion, he kills 25 enemy soldiers and takes 132 prisoners. This exceptional feat of arms earned him the Distinguished Service Cross, which was later replaced by the Congressional Medal of Honor, the French War Cross, also replaced, but by the Legion of Honor, and the War Cross of Italy and Montenegro.
A feat all the more remarkable for a man who had only reluctantly put on the uniform, since he was originally a conscientious objector.
Conversation between SGT York and General Lindsey commanding the division in January 1919 as they toured the site where York captured 132 Germans.
General Lindsey:‘York, how did you do that?’
Alvin York:'General, this is not human. It was a power greater than that of men that guided and protected me and told me what to do.’
The general bowed his head and put his hands on my shoulder and said solemnly, 'York, you're right.'
Alvin York:'There is not the slightest doubt that God had something to do with it. There is no power on earth capable of getting someone out of this situation. On either side of me men were killed; and I was the tallest and most exposed of them all. More than 30 machine guns focused their fire on me at close range from a distance of about 25 meters. When God is with you, you come out of it every time.
"I witness that God really helped me to come out of this hard fight unscathed; while from all sides the grapeshot was raging, I got away without a scratch." Alvin York
During the Second World War, this story will be staged in the cinema by Howard Hawks under the title Sergeant York with Gary Cooper in the title role.