Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-05-27
GREATEST FEAT OF vALoR
Sergeant York Who Killed Twenty and
Captured $50.

Sergeant Alvin G. York, who re-
ceived the congressional medal of hon.
or for the mightiest single handed
achievement of the war, in which he
killed 20 Germans, took 1872 prisoners
and put SO enemy machine gun nests
out of business in the Argonne, wound
up a day of unsuccessful effort to get
into New York city's subway" by
hearing himself proclaimed "the great
est soldier in history" at dinner OF
the Tennessee society in his honor at
the Waldorf Astoria last Friday night.
York, second elder in the Church OF
Christ and Chris tian Union in the lit
tie Tennessee village Of Pail Mall, on
the Lone Wolf river, was flanked on
each side at the speakers table by
Major General George Duncan, who
commanded the S2nd (all American)
division in which York fought, and
Vice Admiral Gleaves, commander Of
the cruiser and transport force of the
navy who "sent him overseas and
brought him back" Not only that
but a telegram from the secretary Of
war was read to him, in which Mr..
Baker asked that his VERY sincerest
regards" be personally conveyed to
the distinguished soldier"
b Yorks toast was drunk standing,
sandwiched in between one to Presi-
dent Wilson and another to Major
General Duncan and so many times
was Sergeant York" eulogized and
spoken to that he heard the toast
master hesitate as he started to in
'troduce the S2nd divisions command
ing general as "Sergeant-er, that is
Major General Duncan"
When it came York's turn to stand
up and address the diners, he showed
his modest simplicity:
' II guess you all understand that I'm
Just a soldier and not speaker" he
said. I'm just soldier boy-but l
want to thank the society, and Gen.
eral Duncan, and I want you all to
know that what you all have done for
me is highly appreciated and I never
shall forget 1t. Thank you very
much"
Today was one round of festivities
for Sergeant York. From morning
until long after his regular bedtime
he was hurried about the city In taxi
cabs, touring cars, and limousines. He
was shunted from one place Of inter-
est and one reception to another un-
It'll "eating time" at the Waldorf gave
him breathing spell. Then he an
nounced modestly, and with no offense
intended, that all day long he had
wanted to do lust one thing-set into
the subway"
! That's one place 1 sure do want to
'see," he sighed tonight.
At dinner Sergeant York was hailed
as the soldier "who had distinguished
himself above all men in the war, IN
the achievement of the greatest indi-
vidual deed in history"
Joseph Cummings Chase who was
sent by the war department to paint
the pOrIrdlLS Ol Ill tue ,6cLCi dis AL WIN
American army and Sergeant York.
pointed to what a fine thing it Is to
see General Duncan sitting beside
Sergeant York." and General Duncan
said he was proud to have at his side
the most distinguished soldier the
world has produced"
Sergeant York's deeds are of the
character that go down in history, and
make our boys patriots in time Of
stress continued General. Duncan.
He is not only very unpretentious
soldier, but an unassuming, modest
man. His achievement was the most
outstanding act Of gallantry, not only
that this world had produced, but that
l have ever heard of. He is not only
modest absolutely, but unabashed, un-
afraid in the presence Of any gathering
CT of any enemy"