Sgt. York (1 Viewer)

[Louis Badolato]

Some questions for my American friends -

1. Why do I know York's name? Why has he remained in public consciousness when other MOH winners have not?
2. How important to his legacy is the religious portion of the story? Does that make him more appealing? Does his rural background mean he is from the 'authentic' America?

A few random thoughts on a Saturday morning!

He is more well known because Gary Cooper played him in a blockbuster Hollywood Movie that is regularly played on TV.

 

[marco55]

Sometimes certain individuals capture the public's eye and York was one.His lifestyle and rural upbringing helped.Having a movie made about your life starring Gary Cooper didn't hurt either.
Mark

 

[lancer]

York's post-war activities in terms of trying to bring education and jobs to the region he lived in also helped keep his name in the public eye. Most MoH winners just return to their civvy lives and never have their names come up in the news. York saw his celebrity as a way to get the help his region needed but didn't parlay that into private wealth beyond what he needed to accomplish his goals. He was a remarkable individual. And, as said, the bio-film being made as we were engaged in another world war was a case of perfect, and deliberate, timing to give the US public a war hero to identify with for morale purposes. -- Al

 

[Jack]

Thanks for the replies. I saw the movie many years ago and the effect of the religious conversion appeared odd given that the 'wild behaviour' appeared very tame by modern standards. I remember reading a book on Audie Murphy and the author mentioned (I hope my memory is not playing me false here) that the second most highly decorated soldier from WW 2 had lost an arm and was therefore less appealing for photographers. Oddly, I suppose, Murphy's 'scars' probably ran much deeper. York, as with many heroes, may well have come to represent a 'type' that was reassuringly familiar. When I saw the 'bust' of York in this thread it really hit home how much Cooper's portrayal has become confused with the man. I almost expected the bust to be of Cooper rather than York. A bit like trying to picture Lawrence of Arabia completely divorced from Peter O'Toole.

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

Like Louis, I also have the Trophy set of Sgt. York. The set presently resides in one of my curio cabinets, but I took a couple photos of the set before placing it on display. The photos are not the best, but they provide a slightly different view of the set.



Photo 4518




Photo 4519


One of the neat things about this set is it included a very nicely sculpted and painted scenic backdrop. A view of the backdrop can be seen below:




Photo 4520

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[mestell]

I have had an interest in the Sgt York story for quite some time. My 5X Great Grandfather was Henry B. York. His older brother was Semore York. Semore was Sgt Alvin York's Great Great Grandfather. That would make my Grandfather Henry B. York, Sgt York's Great Great Grand Uncle. This would also mean that my 6X Great Grandfather, Jeremiah York (father to Henry & Semore), was also Sgt York's Great Great Great Grandfather. Some more interesting York family history: My grandfather, Henry B. York was a Colonel under Lafayette during the American War of Independence and fought at the Battle of Brandywine and several other skirmishes with the British. His younger brother, Bartholemew York also fought in the Colonial Army during the Revolution and was killed at the Battle of Brandywine on 11 Sep 1777. On the flip side of history, Semore York was a Loyalist Captain and was captured by the Continentals on his way to the Battle of Moore's Creek in Feb 1776. I find family geneaology to be extremely interesting . . . you bnever know where it will lead you and its another way of looking at our history through the lives and activities of family relations generations ago.
:smile2: Mike

 

[gk5717]

I have had an interest in the Sgt York story for quite some time. My 5X Great Grandfather was Henry B. York. His older brother was Semore York. Semore was Sgt Alvin York's Great Great Grandfather. That would make my Grandfather Henry B. York, Sgt York's Great Great Grand Uncle. This would also mean that my 6X Great Grandfather, Jeremiah York (father to Henry & Semore), was also Sgt York's Great Great Great Grandfather. Some more interesting York family history: My grandfather, Henry B. York was a Colonel under Lafayette during the American War of Independence and fought at the Battle of Brandywine and several other skirmishes with the British. His younger brother, Bartholemew York also fought in the Colonial Army during the Revolution and was killed at the Battle of Brandywine on 11 Sep 1777. On the flip side of history, Semore York was a Loyalist Captain and was captured by the Continentals on his way to the Battle of Moore's Creek in Feb 1776. I find family geneaology to be extremely interesting . . . you bnever know where it will lead you and its another way of looking at our history through the lives and activities of family relations generations ago.
:smile2: Mike

Mike, somewhere in about the third "great" I got lost!
Gary

 

[TomB]

York's post-war activities in terms of trying to bring education and jobs to the region he lived in also helped keep his name in the public eye. Most MoH winners just return to their civvy lives and never have their names come up in the news. York saw his celebrity as a way to get the help his region needed but didn't parlay that into private wealth beyond what he needed to accomplish his goals. He was a remarkable individual. And, as said, the bio-film being made as we were engaged in another world war was a case of perfect, and deliberate, timing to give the US public a war hero to identify with for morale purposes. -- Al

Thank you for the info on Sgt York....I remember the movie from yesrs ago,and the excellent performance by Gary Cooper...... remarkable MoH winner and individual indeed....cheers TomB

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Yep, Sgt. York was a dead shot and inflicted many casualties on the enemy.

 

[Combat]

The new book on Sgt. York is due for release this week:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alvin-york-douglas-v-mastriano/1117054843?ean=9780813145198

 

[Combat]

Had a chance to hear Mastriano speak about his new Sgt.York book today ay the Army Heritage Center in Carlisle. A lot of the discussion involved his efforts to find the exact location of York's exploits. Mastriano uncovered a number of artifacts associated with the event which he had with him. Pretty amazing to see. The artifacts more or less confirm the basic events.

 

[Combat]

Here's a picture of Andrew York, son of the famous Alvin York, signing my copy of the Mastriano book today. He's 84 years old. Also a picture of him with my 4-year old son. By the time he is my age WWI will seem like ancient history.