The top US Army soldier in WW1 was a Hillbilly named Sargent Alvin York.. The character lived back in the hills like a Mt.Man, and had a hatred that caused him to spite his neighbors and the people of the church... He stood outside and cursed the church and beat people in hatred.. God "touched" Alvin York as he rode his mule past the church building that he had cursed! A * Bolt of lightning came from the sky and slayed him cold! ...when he raised up, he saw the church, and the warm light inside.. befuddled and stumbling he entered the back and the Preacher preached to him, in his sin.. and told him the way to the cross! Alvin York had a real salvation experiance in the good old time gospel way! America had a strong pacifistic streak in it at that time.. and involvement in Europes troubles was not our business untill the politics changed with the sinking of a ship by German U-boats.. There were strong sympathies for Germany, as that was the heritage of many Americans... however we entered the war on the side of England, and mobleized for war... Alvin York got a draft letter and it gave him grief- *He had given his hatefull nature over to God and felt he had no right to raise his hand in violence against anyman... The gospel of peace is LOVE and we are to love our enemies, even *prefere them to our comfort, for God so loved the world that he gave is son for *who-so-ever that will accept that gift of Love and forgiveness...in Christ will be saved! Yet! He was told to report... "Preacher- I kin run back in them hills so far no one will ever find me.. It aint that I fear war, but I fear the displeasure of my God more..." *Preacher replied- "I know yah kin son.. but the choice is yourn.. You run- and I'll not fault yee... You go to town and say yur peace and come what may, I'll be there with yee.." Alvin decided that he should *say his peace face to face with the Army! He entered and was in a training platoon where they gave him a '08 Springfield bolt action rifle in 30.06 cal. and 5 round integral magizine.<G> Alvin said: "This here rifles the fanciest gun I ever saw! why.. the balance.. the weight and the action is better than my flinter!" they had the men fall out to the rifle rang for training and when Alvin shot, the first was off... and the rest were dead on the bull! He was drilling the same holes, and that got the attention of the Army! He was ordered to shoot at a clean target alone and same-same dead on! The Marksmenship fellers gathered around and Alvin told them how he hunted geese, and could shoot down a flock from the back to the front so the lead goose never knew what hit him! Alvin was called into the Officers quarters and offered rank advancement in the infantry... "Sir- I mean no disrespect, however... I don't want no part of Kill'n! Not teach'n it- not do'n it!...my Religion is ah-gin it, and that's all I got to say... sir!" This put the Officer back on his heals, as it was a refusal of an order! Alvin could be sent to the stockade and in the extream ...shot! "That don't matter sir- you do what you got too as I must be right with my God..." The Army- gave Alvin some time to think things through.. and he returned to the hills and his preacher for meditation... He went high on a mountian to pray.. took his Bible... and had a little talk with Jesus! *REFLECTION! ============ What if he got the word like many that- "A Christian is to be an objector to violence and war" Would his objection and non-paricipation in WW1 grant us the right as Royal Rangers to criticize his decision? *If we stand before boys- should we NEVER mention the thoughts that passed through Alvin York as he struggled with his choices? *What does the Bible say? What word eased his conscience? Sargent Alvin York..yeilded- was sent to combat in France and by his action caused the surrender of Hundreds of Germans, from the trenches..and as a result was awarded the legion of merit and other awards... His tools were his '08 Sprinfield and his 1911 Colt a1 in .45acp... he also packed a P08 Luger in 9 x 19mm.. He returned and was granted a Farm by the state of Tennesse... *A "Hero" -=A=- -- ��ࡱ�
begin: vcard fn: Duane Wheeler n: Wheeler;Duane org: OPT. 354 TPCC email;internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED] title: ->A N0.1<- note: "A life time adventure!" x-mozilla-cpt: ;0 x-mozilla-html: FALSE version: 2.1 end: vcard
