Sergeant Alvin C. York

Beyond the Call to Duty are words that titled Sergeant Alvin C. York for the rest of his life and beyond. Sergeant Alvin C. York was born 13 December 1887 in a Town called Pall Mall, Tennessee located in Fentress Country. He was the 3rd oldest child of 11 children. Sergeant York grew up in Fentress County, a place settled by his Great Grandfather who lived in a cave located there. Life outside of Fentress County was unknown to Sergeant York. Sergeant York had a total of nine months of schooling, which is why some suggest that he was not an intelligent man when it came to dealing with money. This lack of knowledge led to him being poor. At a young age, Sergeant York was an excellent shot with a black powder rifle and used this skill to put food on the table and win many shooting matches. Sergeant York was far from an outstanding member of the community when he was growing up. He stayed out late gambling, drinking, chasing women, fighting, and being an all around nuisance. Then one day a great change overcame Sergeant York. He came home late one night and his mother asked him when he was going to grow up and become a man so she could stop worrying about him. Sergeant York wrote in his diary that he made his mother a promise that very night that he would change his life.