These are a few of the major events in the life of Sergeant Alvin C.York from the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee who became one of America’s greatest war heroes in World War I.

1887 Alvin Cullum York was born on December 13, 1887, in Pall Mall, Tennessee.

1915 Alvin C. York was “saved” by a personal experience with Jesus Christ and joined the Church of Christ in Christian Union on January 1.

1917 Alvin C. York received notice to register for the draft in June. Pastor Pile urged Alvin to seek exemption as a conscientious objector. Alvin filed four appeals, but all were rejected.

1917 Alvin C. York was inducted into the Army on November 15.

1918 York and the 82nd Division sailed for France in May.

1918 On October 8 in the battle of the Argonne Alvin C. York captured 132 prisoners. York was promoted to sergeant and received the Distinguished Service Cross, the French Croix de Guerre, the French Legion of Honor, the Croce di Guerra of Italy, and the War Medal of Montenegro.

1919 Sgt. York returned to the United States to a hero’s welcome in May and received the Medal of Honor.

1919 On June 7, Alvin C. York and Gracie Williams were married in Pall Mall, Tennessee, by Governor A. H. Roberts.

1927 Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute was established by Sgt. York. He had spent several years raising money for the school which operated as a private institution.

1937 Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute became a state special school after a special appeal to the Tennessee State Legislature from Sgt. York who was no longer able to operate the school.

1941 The story of Sgt. York was made into a movie. Sgt. York acted as advisor.

1954 Alvin C. York suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and became bed-ridden.

1964 On September 2, 1964, Alvin C. York died at the Veterans Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. He was buried in Pall Mall, Tennessee.

Source: https://web.archive.org/web/19980113012711/http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/York/life.html