The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-05-28
"They are getting up big dinner
for YOU" he was told.

mighty SOOQ just tnlS minute, he SAID.
I"I don't see why people make such
fuss over me. / want to go home as
soon as can to see my girl. She
hasn't written to me in some time"
Officers and men on the Ohioan were
unanimous in praise Of York. Not
once, since he received the highest
military honor bestowed by our Gov
ernment, has he shown any disposition
to regard his exploit as important,
they said. Several officers expressed
regret that other members of Sergeant
York's patrol squad which surprised
the Germans at Hill 223 in the Ar
gonne Forest, had not won recognition.
The following from the New York
World tells how he did it:
Scrgt. Alvin G.. York, Company G,
32Sth Infantry, Of Pail Mall, Tenn, the
former conscientious objector, who is
credited with having performed the
greatest individual feat Of the war in
capturing 132 Germans, after killing
twenty-five and cleaning out thirty
five machine gun nests, arrived here
Yesterday on the transport Ohioan. A
delegation Of the Tennessee Society Of
Now York, which has planned five
days OF celebration for him, received
him at Hoboken pier
Ihc siX-footer was easily rccog-
nizcd as the vessel came to her pier.
photographers and reporters rushed
to him. He stayed them off while he
read messages from the home folk
and wire from the pastor Of the
Church Of Christ and Christian
Union, Of which York is second elder,
warning him against signing con
tracts for vaudeville or lectures.
One message was from his mother
and another rfrom his sweetheart,
scvcntcen-year-old Grace Williams,
the prcttcst girl in all Tennessee,
take 1t firm York, and he says he
knows what he is talking about.
York wears the D.. S. C. and the
CroiX dc Gucrrc, and has been rec
commended for the Congressional
Medal.
Sure. I killed twenty-five Germans
the day I captured 1872 prisoners" he
said, answering a question. "If T
hadn't killed them quick I wouldn't
be here"
He was told some of his company
who arrived here two days ago ac-
cuscd HIN OF grabbing all the glory
and medals Of the success of the at
tack in which they took part.
"Wcil, al can asy is that every
man who was with me sworc to an
affidavit telling just where he was
and what happened that day, before |
got these medals" he said. II sure
am surprised that they are saying
such things"
In The automobile that took him TO
the WaldOrf-Astoria. where he will
spend five days furlough, Sergt York
talked OF his exploit. He drew a map
showing the field on Oct s, and tho
formation Of his company on Hill 223
at 6 o'clock that morning when orders
came to capture a railway two kilo-
metres across a valley and stream.
Half of the men dropped before the
valley was crossed. he said, and ma
chine gun fire was beating on them
from all sides.
I'VE made dctour across the val
ley until we got back Of nest of
the enemy, from which the crew had
been picking off our men right smart"
he went on. at is very bushy, and
we were within 20 yards OF the crew
before we realized it. One Of our
men shot at them. He sure started
something. They fired on us from
every direction. Our boys either ran
or fell on their stomachs as the
Germans did | sat right where
was, and 1t seemed as IL every gun.
ncr was a-hring straight at me. All
this time. though, I was a-using m,
, rife and the enemy he was affecting
the effects Of 1t.
: "One Of our boys yelled that it wa.
impossible to get the best of the situa
ton, but yelled back, Shut up
| knew one American was better thar
ten Germans IL ne kept his wits.
, turned In time to see a Eeine Leuten
, ant, with six or seven men, charging
toward me with fixed bayonets. The.
0 were only twenty yards from me whel