Alvin C. York

York's draft notice reached him on June 5, 1917, from his friend, pastor and postmaster Rosier Pile. His church forbade drinking, dancing and violence, and Pile urged him to claim conscientious objector status. York wrote on his draft card, "Dont want to fight," but the boards refused because the church was not recognized as a legitimate sect. Weeks of debate with his company commander changed his mind. The fame afterward, historians note, rested on what he symbolized, since nine men took the 132 prisoners and York never claimed to act alone.

What the plaque says

Alvin C. York Born in nearby Pall Mall, 1887. Enlisted in U.S. Army 1917, all-American Division, and became outstanding hero of World War I. Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor and Croix De Gurerre for killing 25 of the enemy and single-handedly capturing 132. Established Alvin C. York Institute for education of mountain children. After a lifetime of public service he died in 1964, and is buried at Wolf River Cemetery, Pall Mall.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park — 6.9 mi
  The Wolf River valley farm, gristmill and grave of Alvin York, the conscientious objector turned Medal of Honor soldier, now a National Historic Landmark district.
• Pickett CCC Memorial State Park — 11 mi
  A Civilian Conservation Corps park of sandstone buildings, natural bridges and rock shelters beside the Big South Fork, and an International Dark Sky Park.
• Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area at Bandy Creek — 14 mi
  The Tennessee gateway to a 125,000-acre Cumberland Plateau river gorge, from the Bandy Creek Visitor Center near Oneida, with Twin Arches and the old No Business country.
• Cordell Hull Birthplace and Museum State Park — 17 mi
  A replica of the log cabin where the secretary of state and Nobel laureate was born in 1871, with a museum of his belongings, in Pickett County's hills.

More markers nearby

• Mark Twain Spring — 1.2 mi
• Wolf River Cemetery — 7.0 mi
• "Tennessee Lead" — 14 mi
• Rugby — 14 mi