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Was Alvin York undoubtably the most honorable U.S. soldier in history?

Iwa

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Alvin York in case you didnt know already served in world war I and was most prominently in action in the Argonne offensive in France. Where he picked off most of the Germans in the machine gun nests, and basically took the back lines of German troops single handedly with a group of 7 others behind him. i think he was the most prominentfgure in military soldier history.
 
Alvin York in case you didnt know already served in world war I and was most prominently in action in the Argonne offensive in France. Where he picked off most of the Germans in the machine gun nests, and basically took the back lines of German troops single handedly with a group of 7 others behind him. i think he was the most prominentfgure in military soldier history.

He was also a pacifist.
 
I'm not taking anything away from what he did--he kept with the highest standards and traditions of the United States military--but I've always wondered why Alvin York is so famous.

There are service members since that done more and no one even knows who they are. I bet that there are very few folks--if any--on this forum that would know who Tony Stein is, or what he did on Iwo Jima, without googling it.
 
Never heard of him. He's obviously not famous outside the USA.
 
That is very true he filed papers to be a conscientious Objector. but was turned down

Not quite true. He tried to use that for the draft, and it was refused. This is because it is not unusual for CAs to be drafted, they can fulfill many roles, such as medics. This lets them serve without violating their oaths or beliefs.

On 17 November 1917 the paperwork arrived allowing him to file with the military as a CA, but he refused to sign it. During the time between being called up and then, he reached a decision that even though his religion was against war, he felt he had to answer the call.

I knew I had plenty of brothers back there that could look after my mother, that I was not the sole support, and I didn't feel I ought to do it. And so I never asked for exemption from service on any grounds at all. I never was a conscientious objector. I am not today. I didn't want to go and fight and kill. But I had to answer the call of my country, and I did. And I believed it was right. I have got no hatred toward the Germans and I never had. - excerpt from Alvin York's diary

"The Diary of Alvin York" by Alvin C. York

Never heard of him. He's obviously not famous outside the USA.

He was very famous. But like so many war heroes, his fame has grown feint over time. If not for the movie based on his life (with Gary Cooper playing Sergeant York), most Americans would probably have forgotten him as well.
 
Not quite true. He tried to use that for the draft, and it was refused. This is because it is not unusual for CAs to be drafted, they can fulfill many roles, such as medics. This lets them serve without violating their oaths or beliefs.

On 17 November 1917 the paperwork arrived allowing him to file with the military as a CA, but he refused to sign it. During the time between being called up and then, he reached a decision that even though his religion was against war, he felt he had to answer the call.

I knew I had plenty of brothers back there that could look after my mother, that I was not the sole support, and I didn't feel I ought to do it. And so I never asked for exemption from service on any grounds at all. I never was a conscientious objector. I am not today. I didn't want to go and fight and kill. But I had to answer the call of my country, and I did. And I believed it was right. I have got no hatred toward the Germans and I never had. - excerpt from Alvin York's diary

"The Diary of Alvin York" by Alvin C. York



He was very famous. But like so many war heroes, his fame has grown feint over time. If not for the movie based on his life (with Gary Cooper playing Sergeant York), most Americans would probably have forgotten him as well.

i know that. for the most part he was a CA but then he did finally give into it.
 
There have undoubtedly been countless, INCREDIBLY brave things done by American soldiers that no one will ever know of.

Saying one person is the most honorable is completely pointless, imo.
 
Alvin York in case you didnt know already served in world war I and was most prominently in action in the Argonne offensive in France. Where he picked off most of the Germans in the machine gun nests, and basically took the back lines of German troops single handedly with a group of 7 others behind him. i think he was the most prominentfgure in military soldier history.

Every war has it's national hero. Here's Audie Murphy from WWII fame -


Audie_Murphy.jpg



York was a great soldier and Gary Cooper did him well.
 
There have undoubtedly been countless, INCREDIBLY brave things done by American soldiers that no one will ever know of.

Saying one person is the most honorable is completely pointless, imo.

These guys were paraded for the war effort and to raise money. Same thing happened to the crew of the Memphis Belle Notice none of the guys who just didn't get killed weren't made heroes.

220px-MemphisBelle_crew_USAF.jpg
 
I think it's also instructive how even legendary figures like Murphy suffered from PTSD - slept with a loaded gun and addicted to sleeping pills. I think that should also be told alongside his exploits because it can reduce the stigma. If it can happen to someone who was brave enough to get on top of a burning tank and then wipe out 50 of the enemy while being wounded...

For instance he captured or killed *20* germans who were holed up in a house, but right before that his best friend was killed right next to him, by some of them who faked surrender

He went on a very public speaking tour on behalf of Korean/Vietnam vets with PTSD. One would have hoped we'd have a commander in chief who wouldn't draft dodge and would have enough awareness of medal of honor winners who suffered from PTSD to not imply in speeches that they're weak

Alas, there's been few heroics like this on the field of battle since all those years ago, so it's become permissible for commanders to be totally clueless of their sacrifices
 
Every nation has its war heroes. It's not a competitive thing and suggesting some kind of ranking devalues the contributions of all those who gave so much and whose story didn't catch Hollywood's eye.
 
Every nation has its war heroes. It's not a competitive thing and suggesting some kind of ranking devalues the contributions of all those who gave so much and whose story didn't catch Hollywood's eye.

This. It's not a competition.
 
There have undoubtedly been countless, INCREDIBLY brave things done by American soldiers that no one will ever know of.

Saying one person is the most honorable is completely pointless, imo.

Having said the above, one of the most honorable American soldiers in history that I am aware of is Hugh Thompson Jr. and his (and his helo crew's) amazing bravery during the My Lai Massacre.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Thompson_Jr.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_Massacre

Often times, it takes far more bravery to prevent killings than to do the killings.

I was in the military (reserves). But I have for a long time believed that big body counts should not be praised.

They are a regrettable - but often necessary - part of war.

One should never celebrate the death of others - especially when those others are unknowns whom could have been decent people.
 
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Having said the above, one of the most honorable American soldiers in history that I am aware of is Hugh Thompson Jr. and his (and his helo crew's) amazing bravery during the My Lai Massacre.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Thompson_Jr.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_Massacre

Often times, it takes far more bravery to prevent killings than to do the killings.

I was in the military (reserves). But I have for a long time believed that big body counts should not be praised.

I realize this is about Americans. But this is another example of someone whom I think did an incredibly honorable thing:

Franz Stigler - the German Me109 pilot who escorted a damaged B-17 out of danger in WW2.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Brown_and_Franz_Stigler_incident

'Between 1990 and 2008, Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler became close friends and remained so until their deaths within several months of each other in 2008.'

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Chesty Puller has the most impressive fruit salad in USMC history including 5 Navy Crosses and an Army Distinguished Service Cross, for a total of six Crosses behind only Eddie Rickenbacker who had 8.
 
How about Audey Murphy, he was the Alvin York of WWII

He was certainly one of the greatest American war heroes, but there were many others who did remarkable things as well.


Roger Young...


http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodger_Wilton_Young


I think that there are a great many, mostly unknown to the public - sadly, US soldiers who have hard the call, honored that call, and have distinguished themselves on the field of battle. We owe them all a great deal, and should honor them all, every chance we get.

It's one of reasons the nation is a great as it is, their sacrifice, their perseverance, their service. My hat's off to them, and they have my gratitude.
 
Too many great stories to list.

The most impressive to me are the "work alone" snipers.

The female Russian snipers always jump to the front for me.

Hathcock in Vietnam..... His treks behind enemy lines are almost as legendary as his kills.

Simo Hayha....... the Norwegian "white Death" was the single most deadly sniper of all time. The Russians feared this guy to no end.

There were many other great Russian male snipers as well.

Hathcock jumps to the head of the line as far as the American's go.
 
Obviously no one here knows much about US military history or our greatest heroes. Here are some of the best of the best that ever served.

latest


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TopGun1.jpg


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r-leeermey.jpg


I've seen lots of documentaries on TV and Netflix of these guys in action for America's freedom.
 
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