Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-06-03
WELCOME TO SERGEANT YORK.
Hero Of the Arsonne Greeted by His
Home People.

Hero Of the Argonne Greeted by His
Home People.
Chattanooga, May 29.-Sergt. Alvin
lie. York, Tennessee mountaineer and
hero of the battle of the Argonne, who
arrived here today en- route to Fort
oglethorpe. received his discharge
from the army tonight and will leave
for his home at Pail Hall tomorrow
morning.
Sergeant York arrived at the fort at
o'clock this afternoon and 80 min
utes later had received his physical
examination and discharge from the
I service, all the papers having been
prepared in advance.
Sergeant York tonight wired Sena-
tor Kenneth D. McKellar asking him
to introduce a bill sAthorizing the re-
turn to him of the pistol No. 24,OSS
with which he killed the Germans at
the time of his Argonne exploit.
Sergeant York, after much coaxing'
exhibited a pistol which he took from
the German major whom he captured
at that time. York's own pistol was
turned over to the army quartermas-
ter at Retz. France. Sergeant York
was made an honorary member of the
Chattanooga Rotary club today and
was elected a delegate to the Salt
Lake convention by the Rotarians.
Sergeant York was met at the sta
tion here this morning by Brig. Gen
w. s. Scott, commander Of Fort Ogle-
thorpe, and great concourse OF clti-
zens who escorted him to local hotel
and served him with luncheon. He
was introduced to the guests by Mayor
Littleton and made probably the long
est address which he has delivered
since his return from France.
81 certainly appreciate what Tennes-
see has done for me in welcoming me
back home" said Sergeant York, and
I will 1go a little further and say
deeply appreciate what America has
done for me in welcoming me back,
and not only me but every boy who
has gone to France. There Is not a
boy any prouder to return than l, and
we had a pretty tough time Of 1t in
Europe. There is always to be the Bit
ter with the sweet and we had our
bitter parts there and we hope now
the result from the bitter will be
sweet.
"There has been no army in the
world which did it's work with so
great a will as did our army. America
now has a chance to put itself at the
top notch in the hearts of the people
of the world and during this time we
should not forget whose hand 1t was
that was with us during 1t all. Amer
lea today is the only nation Of the
world that has generation of young
men, and I firmly believe 1t is the
most Christian nation in the world.
The hand Of God, 1 believe was GER
tainly with us during the war. We
did not want money or fame In this
war. There was something higher
and better than that. The boys who
gave their lives for our country have
gone a great deal and we ought to be
proud of them"
Later Sergeant York was guest OF
the Rotary club, and was made an
honorary member. 1t Is expected that
he will be discharged from the army
at once and will return to his home
at Pail Mall, Tenn.
Detailing the fighting in which he
gained undying fame, Sergeant York
said:
81 was sitting down when the bat
tie was going on. I was not excited.
You know If things get hot a fellow
shouldn't mind that. You ought never
to lose heart. Just at the time you
think you are about to surrender your
self the other fellows are ready to sur
render. The Germans came down the
hill There were seven or eight OF
them in the first wave. I didn't have
time to count them but began rapid
firing. l guess I got them because
they all went down. My men were on
my left guarding the. prisoners. In the
batch on the. hillside, I kept on hear
ing some one shooting. ! went after
him and found the German major had
emptied two clips. I would have shot
him but he threw down his gun. l
made them all take off their belts and
throw away their guns and packs
II
get tickled at them when they went
marching off with me holding my
forty-five. The German major, he got
mad when he foand there were so
few of us and said Oh in good En-
glish when he found out was Ameri-
can. He thought we were going to
kill him."
How was it you got seven or eight
Germans in that 90 yard rush they
made on you?" Sergeant York was
asked.
81 was doing rapid fire shooting.
can empty three clips at 20 yards be-
fore any one could get me-" he re-
piled.
mo doubt you thought you would
never see Pail Mall again" said the
Associated Press representative.
"T didn't think any such thing.
knew I would. knew I would when
I got over in France. If you keep God
with you and trust and obey Him you
will come out victorious" said the
valiant soldier.