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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 8, 2023 ~ The Old Sachem ~ Page 7 A World War I Hero By Bill Stewart A Medal of Honor recipient of the First World War was Alvin York, who became well known as Sergeant York. In the battle of Meuse-Argonne, he led an attack on a German machine gun group, killing about 25 German soldiers and capturing 132 prisoners. York received decorations from several allied countries, including France and Italy. Alvin was born in a tworoom cabin in Fentress County, Tennessee, to William Uriah York and Mary Elizabeth Brooks. The family had roots in England, Scotland and Ireland. An impoverished family, the father worked as a blacksmith when not tending the family farm. The York sons had very little education and were needed to maintain the family farm. There were 11 children in the family: eight sons and three daughters. Alvin was the third oldest, and the sons with their father farmed, hunted and fi shed to supply the family with food. Mother Mary, along with her daughters, made the family clothing. Father William died in November 1911 and Alvin had to lead the family because his two older brothers had married and left the family farm. Alvin, in addition to working the farm, worked in railroad construction and logging. He was also a violent alcoholic and often got into fi ghts in local saloons. In one of the fi ghts, his best friend was killed. Alvin was known for his many arrests in the area. His mother was a pacifi st Protestant and talked Al“The Old Sachem,” Bill Stewart (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Joanie Allbee) vin into changing his ways. In 1914, York had a conversion, improved his life and became a member of the Church of Christ in Christian Union. When the war broke out, he claimed conscientious objection status because his religion was against violence and warfare. He was finally convinced that his religion did not exempt him from military service, York joined the 82nd Division as an infantry private of company G of the 328th infantry and was sent to France in 1918. He was promoted to Private First Class in France, then became Acting Corporal in a group of 17 soldiers, which was assigned to infi ltrate the German lines to silence a machine gun position. The group captured a large group of German soldiers, losing six Americans, and had three more wounded. After capturing the German group, the Americans led the prisoners back to the American lines to be imprisoned. Alvin was promoted to sergeant and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for leading his unit. Later the Army upgraded his award after an investigation to The Medal of Honor. He became a national hero for his service in France and was hailed as a hero when he arrived home from Europe. He also received the 1914-1918 War Cross with Palm from France. His unit attacked on October 8, 1918, to capture German positions near hill 223, along the Decauville railroad north of Chatel-Chéhéry, France. When he was asked about his actions, he stated, “The Germans got us, and they got us real smart. They just stopped us dead in our tracks. The machine guns were up the hill overlooking and well hidden, and we couldn’t tell for certain where the terrible heavy fi re was coming from. And I’m telling you they were shooting straight. Our boys just went down like the long grass before the mowing machines at home. Our attack just faded out. And there we were, lying down, and those German machine guns, and big shells hitting us hard.” The unit responded and won the battle. York was hailed as a hero when he returned to Tennessee and married Gracie Loretta Williams in 1919. A committee of businessmen purchased a farm for the Yorks, who through the years had 10 children. Alvin formed a charitable foundation to improve education for children in rural Tennessee. York worked as a project superintendent in the 1930s and 1940s for the Civilian Conservation Corps and led the eff ort to construct Byrd Lake at Cumberland Mountain State Park. A film was made in Hollywood which featured York’s JOHN MACKEY & ASSOCIATES ~ Attorneys at Law ~ * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY * LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES 14 Norwood Street Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 WWW.JMACKEYLAW.COM accomplishments in the war as “Sergeant York,” which became the highest-grossing fi lm of 1941, and Gary Cooper won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Sergeant Alvin York. As his health declined in later years, he was confi ned to bed, and he died in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1964 and was buried at Wolf River Cemetery in Pall Mall, Tennessee. (Editor’s Note: Bill Stewart, better known to Saugus Advocate readers as “The Old Sachem,” writes a weekly column about sports – and sometimes he opines on current or historical events or famous people.) GRAND OPENING SPECIAL! GO TO REVERESELFSTORAGE.COM TO RESERVE ONLINE OR SCAN QR CODE • 100% Climate Controlled Facility • Newly Constructed Facility • 5000 Lb. Oversized Elevator • Secure Units–Various Sizes • State-Of-The-Art Surveillance Cameras • Secure Units–Various Sizes For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-233-4446 or info@advocatenews.net

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