Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-05-24
SERGEANT YORK
HONOR GUEST AT
BIG BANQUET
Tennessee Mouutaineer Has
Novel Experience in Great
Metropolis.

New York, May 23.--Sergeant AL
vim c. York, who received the Con-
gressional Medal of Honor for the
mightiest single handed achievement
of the war, in which he killed ~
Germans. took 100 more prisoners,
and put SO enemy machine gun nests
out of business in the Argonnc, wound
up a day of successful effort to get
into New York city's subway by
hearing himself proclaimed the
greatest soldier in history" at din
ner of the Tennessee society in his
honor at the Waldorf Astoria to-
night. -,
York. second elder in the church of
Christ, and Christian Union in the lit
tie Tennessee village of Pail Mall. on
the lonely Wolf river, was thanked on
either side at the speakers table by
Major General George Duncan, who
commanded the 82nd all Americana
division in which York fought, and
Vice Admiral Albert Gleaves, COM
mander of the cruiser and transport
forces, of the navy. who "sent him
overseas and brought him back" Not
only that, but telegram from the
which Mr.. Baker asked that his Every
sincerest regards" be personally con-
veyed to the distinguished soldier"
Drink Standing Toast.
York's 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 Sind 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. |
am just a soldier and not speaker"
he said, "I'm just soldier boy-but
/ want to thank the society and Gen
eral Duncan, and | want you to know
that what you all have done for me,
is highly appreciated and never shall
forget it. Thank you very much"
Today was one round of festivities
for Sergeant York. From morning I'M
til 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 I'M
til "eating time" at the Waldorf gave
him a breathing spell Then he an
nounced modestly with no offense in
tended, that all day long he had want
ed to do "just one thing--get into
the subway.
Wanted to See Subway.
"That's one place sure do want to
see." he sighed tonight
At dinner Sergeant York has hailed
as the soldier "who has distinguished
himself above all men in the war, in
the achievements of the greatest in
dividual deed in history"
Joseph Cummins Chase, who was
sent by the war department to paint
the portraits of all the generals in the
American army and Sergeant York"
pointed to what fine thing it is to
see General Dunsan 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 Yord'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 unpretention
soldier, but an unassuming modest
man. His achievement was the most
outstanding act of gallantry, not on
" that this world war has produced,
but that have ever heard of. He is
not only modest. absolutely, but I'M
abashed. unafraid in the presence Of
any gathering or of any enemy"
The first words of the German ma
jor captured by York, when he round
ed up 1872 prisoners in the Argonne
forest, was told by General Duncan: