Sgt. York: 'What a soldier should be'

In a ceremony at the Tennessee State Capitol on Oct. 27, retired Army Col. Gerald York said his legendary grandfather, Sgt. Alvin York, understood that freedom has a steep and ongoing cost.

While a second world war raged overseas, York – a Christian pacifist turned combat hero – traveled the country in support of U.S. involvement. In 1918, "we thought we'd won, that we'd achieved liberty, democracy and peace for everyone forever," Gerald, a Vietnam War veteran, told guests. "We don't have them forever. We have a lease on them, and another payment was due."

Hosted by American Legion Nashville Post 5, the Sgt. Alvin C. York Centennial Celebration and Recognition honored the life and legacy of Tennessee's most decorated doughboy. More than 200 people attended the event, including 30 of York's descendants.They gathered beneath a statue of York dedicated by the state in 1968, 50 years after he and his squad of seven soldiers famously captured 132 Germans behind enemy lines.

A century on, York is remembered not just for his courage on the battlefield, but his character. Offered $250,000 to lend his name to various products upon his return from Europe, York said, "This uniform ain't for sale," and instead raised money to build a school for the kids of Fentress County. "He ran it himself for 10 years and handed out diplomas at every graduation until his stroke in 1954," Gerald said. "He wanted his legacy to be bringing education to mountain children."

The centennial tribute featured music by the 129th Army Band, the Sagacity quartet, and an ensemble from the Alvin C. York Institute in Jamestown. Soldiers from the Southeast Medical Area Readiness Support Group (SEMARSG) in Nashville presented the colors.

"It's an honor to be here," said Chris Luchsinger, SEMARSG's command sergeant major. "Sgt. York is iconic. I remember seeing the movie about him, watching Gary Cooper take on the Germans. It's certainly one of those things that shapes your view of what a soldier should be."

When York received his draft notice in 1917, he wrote on it, "Don't want to fight." A devout Christian who had converted after years of hard drinking, he held to the biblical admonition, "Thou shalt not kill." Nevertheless, once he reported to Camp Gordon, Ga., York became a model soldier. Discussions with his commanding officer about Scripture led York to reconsider his position.

"He went back home, prayed about it, and said, 'I have a duty to my country and I have a duty to my God. I'm not sure how those are going to be reconciled, but I'm going to fulfill both,'" Gerald said.

Assigned to Company G, 328th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Infantry Division, York fought at St. Mihiel and later in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. On Oct. 8, 1918, his unit advanced to take Hill 223 and cut off the Decauville railroad north of Chatel-Chehery. When they overran a German headquarters area and began taking prisoners, enemy machine gunners took aim, killing six Americans and wounding three. York took command of the remaining men, drawing on his hunting skills to pick off some 20 German gunners while yelling for a surrender. He returned to American lines with 132 German prisoners in tow. For his actions, York received the Medal of Honor.

Retired Army Col. Dan Mora, the centennial program's vice chairman, read York's award citation, noting that he silenced not one but several enemy machine-gun nests. "No doubt his actions saved countless American lives," Mora said.

In memory of the 4.7 million Americans who served in the Great War, and the 116, 516 who died, Vietnam War Navy veteran and former Nashville firefighter Bill Radcliffe read the poem "In Flanders Fields." Speaking of all Americans who wear or have worn the uniform, he said, "They're the fabric that holds our country together. We should never take our blessings for granted. They're earned every day by land, air and sea. Let's honor those who gave all their tomorrows for what there is today."

Local Eagle Scout Luke Lashlee laid a wreath at the York statue. Keith Heim, former director of the Nashville Community Concert Band, played taps.

State Rep. Sam Whitson remembers being at the statue's dedication in 1968. He was 14 years old. "Growing up, I was always fascinated by military history and particularly the heroes from Tennessee," he said. "Sgt. York is right up there with them, as the greatest soldier, I think, of World War I."

Eager to see York honored near the 100th anniversary of his battle in the Argonne, Whitson turned to friends at The American Legion. "Nashville Post 5 and (event chairman) Charles Harrison did an incredible job putting all this together," he said. "I'm very proud."

Deborah York, executive director of the Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation, thanked The American Legion for remembering her great-grandfather. In the spring of 1919, York attended an organizational meeting of the Legion in Paris, writing that it was "right smart" to form a group to keep veterans in touch once they returned home. He later helped found American Legion Post 137 in Jamestown.

She invited guests to visit Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park in Pall Mall, Tenn., on Veterans Day weekend, where rangers in doughboy uniforms will give trench tours at the York farm and replica World War I biplanes will be on display.

As for York's school, it still operates today, in a different building. The original structure, which York bult with his own hands, was saved from demolition years ago and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is to become the Sgt. York Center for Peace and Valor, a multi-use facility devoted to youth education and veteran outreach and healing.

Calling her great-grandfather a visionary, Deborah asked the crowd to join her in supporting and investing in the center, which aims to impart to others the qualities for which York is best known: courage, sacrifice, integrity, citizenship, patriotism and integrity.

"Instead of building a personal fortune, my great-grandfather set out to build a better world," Deborah said. "With all the effort and energy Sgt. York brought to bear on the battlefields of France, he sought perpetual peace, and the one thing he realized would help was opportunity and education. For him, making peace was a lifelong mission. It is our opportunity now to follow in his footsteps."

Portraying one of the doughboys at the ceremony was Hobart Akin, a cultural resources and exhibit specialist for Tennessee State Parks. Dressed in a wool uniform and tin hat, he bore a strong resemblance to the York portrayed by the statue.

"It's nice to be able to provide a visual reminder of the guys who fought," Akin said. "Many of them are forgotten today. This harkens back to a time in American history that has been largely overshadowed by events that came afterward. A lot of people, when you talk about the Great War, they think you're talking about World War II, especially younger kids.

"Alvin York's courage and bravery always appealed to me as a kid, but as I've gotten older, I fully appreciate more of what he stood for after the war, when he took his fame and tried to use it to make his community a better place. It's a powerful example of what you can do with your life when you come from nothing."

Fred Aschenbach of American Legion Post 54 in Freehold, N.J., drove nearly 900 miles to attend the York event.

He and Post 54's vice commander, Carl Beams, saw an article about it in The American Legion Magazine. High school buddies and Marine Corps veterans, they decided to make a road trip. "I saw the movie 'Sergeant York' with my father when I was a kid," Aschenbach says. "He's a hero. We wanted to be here for him. "

Beams, Post 54's vice commander, grew up hearing about York's achievements in the Argonne and at home in Tennessee.

"He was a legend," Beams says. "To honor him like this is great."

Stephen Weismann, commander of the American Legion Department of Tennessee, said the York event commemorates not only the 100-year anniversary of his battle in France, but the centennial of the Legion, of which York was a proud member. "They go hand in hand," he said.

For York's family, especially those who knew him, the day was special.

"It means everything in the world to be here," said Jimmy York, son of Alvin York Jr. and York's grandson. "I lived across from his farm and was over there all the time. He was a great man and did a lot of great things, but more than anything, he was my grandpa."