OCTOBER 8

On this date 100 years ago, the heroic exploits of the most decorated American soldier in World War I took place.  In the Argonne Forest of France, Corporal Alvin York led a group of less than twenty remaining from his platoon against a German emplacement and captured 35 machine guns, killing 25 and capturing 132 enemy soldiers including four officers.  The descriptions of the battle are awesome.  At one point, six enemy charged him with bayonets and he killed all six with a handgun.  He marched all the captured back to his unit's command post.  It WAS the stuff of movies.

York is commonly called Sergeant York which was the name of the movie made about him - it was the highest-grossing film of 1941 and Gary Cooper won the best actor Academy Award for it. 

York was awarded the Medal of Honor, our nation's highest, for his actions.  He was awarded high honors from other nations as well.  The amazing battle - one hundred years ago today!
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