New-York tribune., 1919-05-24
admiral on Right. General
on Left, at Waldorf BAN
quet, but Never a Blus1l:
From Tennessee Sergeant
Had Time Of Life Here
Hears Self Called ''America' 5
Greatest Hero" and Leaves
for His Southland Home

By all the rules ever set down for
the guidance of heroes in their hour
Of triumph. Sergeant Alvin c. York,
Tennessee blacksmith, should
have been blushing, stammering and
bowing himself out Of the limelight
INTO which he was thrust last night.
For the man who never before had
seen even the most modest banquet
hall was sitting as the guest of honor
at feast spread for h.m iii the gold
inerusted ballroom at the Waldorf An
adlniral sat a. bis right hand seeking
the honor OF an occasional word with
him y general sat at his left hand
seeking the same privilege
Close TO York was Dr. James j.
King. pres ident of the Tennessee So
ciety. and before HIM we're as many
of the members OF that organization
is could crowd INTO the banquet hall.
The man who had been known at
home as u 'middlin' good farmer"
heard himself called "America's great
est hero" "Tennessce's noblest son"
'possessor of name that will be q
household word for future genera
tons and the man VINO covered his
state Hith glory"
Plays True 20 Form
But YorA. the one conscientious OBJ
iector, played true to form in doing
the thing he VAS east e. pected to do,
iuSs IS he id when he captured 132
Hun prisoners, Killed twenty more and
put thirty-ive enemy machine guns
out OF commission. lie took the ball
room, his listiAgu shed most and fell
lov guests, the applause end the lux
uric5 of the Waldorf as details of
welcome tha. he cou!d not escape.
Throughout the evening lie was a
complete master o., himself and the
situation irto which lie had been
thrust. unvillinGly. bat prepared to do
his part; lie v-Gs called uNon for
speech and h m2Ge one, without the
slightcs- evidence OF nervousness But
his modes.y was evident IN his stead
fast ,efuza ii 10 tell the story Of his
historic encounter with the Germans
and his manner C wearing the Con
cressiona! Medal OF Honor, enc Of the
two decorations bestowed upon him by
the nation fer which he repeatedly Of
tered his life. The Congressional
Medal 0 Honor IS the only decoration
ever bestowed by Congress that is worn
suspended from the neck by q ribbon
Wears Congressional Medal
On t.e 4ersu&Sion OF his friends
ork agIeed 20 wear the Congressional
medal, just ne agreed TO wear the
Ost;ngu shea Service Cross. But he
drew the line at donning the bright
silk iinbcl He alippeG the ribbon off
with his penknife and pinned the piece
Of bronze upon his breast with ~ ordi
nary safety pin.
~ reckon that'll be 10 Gisrespecr to
Congress-. ne auuounceG
. When called upon for speech he
arose and stood silently scanning tho
faces before him. while his fellow
Iennosseeans tried to lift the roof
with their cheers HIS red hair stood
belligerentlv on end, innocent OF the
restraints usually imposed by BARRIERS.
His face was red. hut not from embar-
rassmert. II was the red that co,nss
rom exposure 70 wind and sun ard life
N the open.
Modest in His Speech
Nhan York opened his mouth to talk
his voice carried throughout the hall
But II "as not the nervous voice of
sFnan upaccustomed TO meet his fellows
th.nh you al appreciate the fact
that an not a speaker" he said, ~
am just common soldier I would
Ike TO De able 10 tell you all the
things you would like to hear would
Ike 10 make you u regular speech,
suca We have heard this evening.
but, plan doughboy. | cant DO
mat aud / wont try.
/ ,ust want 20 tell you that ] APP
pIeciate what YOU have done for lac.
appreciate being mere and / appreci-
ate what the Tennessee Society has
done for me and | want to thank YOU
1or II. Good night"
Then ne sat down, while every man
ana woman III the banquet hall arose
aod again resumed the cheering.
Commander Praises Him
After Dr. King, toastmaster ard Of
shcial host 70 Tennessee's hero, had
$saId ~hat he could OF the exploits OF
= orA, ne called upon Major General
aieorge &. Duncan, commander of the
s2nd Division, TO which the sergeant
sTas attached, to talk as the dough-
Boys former commander
i consider II an honor to sit here.
hanked on one side by an admiral and
on the other by the most distinguished
soldier the world has ever produced.
began York's commander,
me DanQueters again went wild with
sntnosiasm, while the sergeant smiled
gao assumed mild interest in the en-
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