Alvin York was born in Pall Mall Tennessee on December 13, 1887, the third of 11 children born to William and Mary York. His Grandfather, Uriah York, was an Army Veteran of the Mexican-American War and the Civil War. The York family scraped out a living on their modest farm and supplemented their table by hunting. Young Alvin became an expert marksman in the back woods around Pall Mall. As he entered his teens, Alvin became known as a hell-raiser and a "nuisance" to the community as he frequented bars.
The York family, 1900.
In 1914, Alvin radically altered his life. One of his best friends was killed in a bar fight. As a result, Alvin attended a prayer meeting. While there, Alvin realized the path he had chosen was destructive and decided to change his ways. He became a member of the Church of Christ in Christian Union and was soon teaching Sunday school classes and leading the choir. In addition, the Church of Christ in Christian Union preached a strict moral code which forbade drinking, dancing, movies, swimming, swearing, popular literature, and moral injunctions against violence and war. York gladly accepted this lifestyle and soon met his future wife, Gracie Williams.
in 1917, Alvin's faith was tested when in response to the Declaration of War against Germany, he received a draft notice. Following his church's teachings, he wrote on the back, "Don't want to fight" and sent it back to the local draft board. When his case came up for review it was denied at both the local and the state level because the Church of Christ in Christian Union was not recognized as a legitimate Christian sect. Alvin soon found himself on a train to Camp Gordon, Georgia for basic training. Once there he was assigned to G Company, 328th Infantry, 82nd Division.
At Camp Gordon, Alvin stuck out from the rest. he soon distinguished himself as an expert marksman. This confused the trainers at the camp as he repeatedly spoke of his objection to war.
