Alvin York

April 15, 2014
Alvin York (1887-1964) was a simple Kentucky backwoodsman. Converted to Christianity in 1915, he professed to be a conscientious objector but was denied this by the draft board. Drafted, then deployed to France, he eventually found himself in the thick of a firefight in which his friends were being killed. York, by then a sergeant, killed a number of Germans and directed the capture of 132 more, earning the Medal of Honor. In this biography, Mastriano (U.S. Army colonel) discusses sergeant York's early life, faith, and activities through his death. He adds context to and corrects earlier works about his subject, but his use of battlefield archaeology is new and contributes considerable detail to and confirmation of York's feat. Using contemporary accounts the author found the location of the firefight and retrieved battlefield detritus, including items identifiable as belonging to known participants, thus pinning down the location. VERDICT A readable, thoroughly documented addition to the extensive literature available on an authentic and admirable war hero.--EB

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