Sgt. York is on TCM now

[Loy Hamilton]

Lots of 1903's!!

Pretty good shootin for a man in his liquor..ain't it!!

God Bless all our vets.

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[stonewall56]

Thanks, I set it to record. Gary Cooper is great.

[limazulu]

Lots of 1903's!!

Pretty good shootin for a man in his liquor..ain't it!!

God Bless all our vets.

Did you see the commentary? The guest from the National WW1 Museum said that Hollywood gave Cooper the '03 in the movie but in reality York had a Lee-Enfield.

[JimF in CT]

Yeah . . . I saw that!!!

I very much doubt it was the British SMLE.

Could well have been the M17 though.

Probably just another case of the "unwashed" trying to pontificate on a subject he knows little or nothing about!! --Jim

[Rick the Librarian]

Lee Enfield? Huh?

[jlkonn]

I'm way, way far from being any kind of expert but I think it was pretty much assumed for quite a while that he used a M1917. Then a few years ago there was an interview with a couple of his descendants (grandsons?)in the American Rifleman that were positive he used a 1903. So I guess it's still not known for sure what rifle he used. I believe the pistol he used was a M1911 and the serial number is known. I think the pistol was stolen from his personal belongings on the trip back aboard ship to the States. Forgive me if this next part is perpetuating an urban legend but I heard they used a Luger in the movie because they hadn't perfected a way for the 1911 to self load blanks...Like I said that may be an urban legend.
Thanks!
JLK

[Rick the Librarian]

There's a lot of disagreement about what rifle York used. I just sort of bristled when I heard "Lee Enfield". I believe everybody is in agreement he didn't use one of those! (Except possibly in training by the British).

[limazulu]

There's a lot of disagreement about what rifle York used. I just sort of bristled when I heard "Lee Enfield". I believe everybody is in agreement he didn't use one of those! (Except possibly in training by the British).

Here's the link to the National World War 1 Museum:

http://www.theworldwar.org/s/110/index.aspx

scroll down a bit for the info on their VP being on TCM. They even give a clickable link so you can contact him.

E-mail him and ask him yourself. You might end up with an interesting discourse or high blood pressure.

[jlkonn]

Rick and all,
Here's a very interesting website:
The York Gallery
If you do a web search for "Sgt York battle site" or similar there's quite a bit.
Can they actually go back and find exact sites and artifacts? I'm afraid I have to leave that to the experts but...it's interesting reading.
JLK

[Jim Tarleton]

Lots of 1903's!!

Pretty good shootin for a man in his liquor..ain't it!!

God Bless all our vets.

That must be one the the silver wrist tags made for him after the war.
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Comments on York:
There were 1.2MM AEF troops in the battle for the Argonne Forest. The site that York's (and the other 5 or so men we seem to forget) exploits took place was an area where fighting continued after York was long gone. To find the exact site from shell casings on the ground and a few old pictures is a bit far fetched, if not ludicrous.

As for his shooting, he fired close to 100 30-06 rounds and 7 clips of 45 to kill 23 men (someone correct me if I have the number of kills incorrect). Not exactly the way it was portrayed in the movie, nor by his sons, who said he picked them off (bayonet charge) one by one from rear to front. Heck, the man fired 7 magazines at them!

York was in combat for what? One whole day? I admire the man for his deeds, but his deeds pale in comparison to those of many others. He does not hold the record for most captures, which I think is held by a Private from the 169th (259 men I think). He didn't even capture them single-handedly. He didn't kill the most Germans in one day, and I have no idea who holds that record. He did not suffer prolonged weeks of fierce hand to hand combat as did many other units. I think the 308th needed a hero, and York got the nod.

As for the rifle he used, I suspect he used the rifle he was issued - a M1917. I have heard no credible story that convinces me otherwise, and his sons weren't present. There is no reason to believe otherwise.

York was certainly a hero, and a likable cuss.

Just my humble opinion.

Jim