York, Alvin Cullum (1887-1964), an outstanding American soldier of World War I (1914-1918), killed more than 20 Germans and forced 132 others to surrender on Oct. 8, 1918. York was a member of a patrol sent to silence German machine-gun nests. He shot about 25 soldiers and forced a German major to order the entire group to surrender. York received the Medal of Honor for his deed. Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France called it “the greatest thing accomplished by any private soldier of all the armies of Europe.” Although he became famous as Sergeant York, he was a corporal at the time of his incredible feat.
York was born on Dec. 13, 1887, in Fentress County, Tennessee, and grew up on a mountain farm. He developed amazing marksmanship with the rifle and pistol while a boy. He became deeply religious and sought exemption from the draft because he believed war was wrong. But he was denied exemption. He died on Sept. 2, 1964.
See also Meuse-Argonne Offensive .
