Alvin York: A New Biography of the Hero of the Argonne (American Warrior Series)

The author of this text, Colonel Douglas Mastriano, brings his own unique qualifications as a combat veteran and military historian to bear upon the York story. In the process, he recounts how a former hell raiser turned devout Christian and conscientious objector was fated to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. Colonel Mastriano details Alvin York's journey from a remote Tennessean community to the battlefields of 1918 France and back home again to his beloved mountains and the Valley of the Three Forks of the Wolf, Pall Mall, Tennessee. Biographically, it is a journey measured in much more than miles and milestones in York's life. This text is a careful if sympathetic analysis of how York transformed himself from a wild, hard-living country boy to a staunchly disciplined member of a church in which violence and killing under any circumstances were regarded as sinful. With the coming of WW1, York had to wrestle with the competing demands of his Christian conscience and patriotic duty and, ultimately, reconcile them. As a result of his heroism in the Argonne, York became a reluctant celebrity upon his return home but, most remarkably of all, wished to be remembered not for his war exploits but for his post-war efforts to bring education to the underprivileged in his home community. I shall declare my bias and state that I have been a Sergeant York fan ever since I saw the classic Hollywood film of the same name when I was a child. Similarly, Colonel Mastriano is an unashamed admirer of Sergeant York the soldier and the man. However, at no stage in this thoroughly researched and balanced biography does the Colonel permit this to interfere with the facts he has, sometimes literally, unearthed. Numerous myths and exaggerations have proliferated regarding Sergeant York: some of them complimentary, if inaccurate, and others downright defamatory. Cynical, revisionist history along the lines of "It wasn't that way at all!" is fashionable these days, and Sergeant York's deeds and integrity have been subjected from time to time to defamatory criticism. Colonel Mastriano refutes this revisionism in his own gentlemanly but unimpeachable style, and his book constitutes a lasting clarification of the difference between the myths and the reality. The clean-spoken, non-drinking Tennessean was 'the real deal' and Mastriano makes that very clear. In doing so, he also pays due credit to the other brave men who were with Alvin Cullum York on the day he earned his Medal of Honour. Combining academic skills with military training, the author led an archaeological dig of the battle site and the findings are well documented in this book. They constitute a thorough confirmation of the events and have led also to the physical preservation of the place where a peace-loving man became one of America's most remarkable and fascinating military heroes. York firmly believed that what he achieved that day was due to the guiding and protective presence of God. The guiding presence of the author as York's tale unfolds reveals how a fateful decision to embrace Christianity and pacifism led Alvin York to go into battle not to take lives but to save them. This is a well-written, unpretentious text which reads so easily and pleasantly that it is easy to overlook the extent of the scholarship, military expertise and hands-on battlefield archaeology which supports and underwrites it. If you like your military history and heroes well researched but written up also with sincerity and enthusiastic warmth, then, to paraphrase what Alvin York might say: 'If you don't like this here book, then I reckon you'd be mighty hard to please!'

Col. Mastriano has written a phenomenal, five-star book that is absolutely a non-stop page turner. His skill at writing left me feeling as though I was literally one of those dough boys standing in the muddy, wet, stinking, and death-filled trenches. His technique of using the soldiers themselves to describe the anguish, fear, and horrid living conditions brought me into the heart of that war, as though I were seeing it through the eyes of the men who were there; all of them waiting for the signal for another bayonet charge into the German lines. Col. Mastriano places his reader into the middle of that war. He left me with an understanding of Sgt. York's deeply held Christian beliefs, and the struggle he faced between that faith and his duty while serving in the army during WW I. His book provided in depth discussions that Sgt. York had with his commanding officers on why a Christian should serve God in war, just as in peace. I was extremely impressed with his extensive research, which included using military terrain analysis, archeological digs and forensic studies. Additionally, he used diaries, documents, other books, and recorded interviews as he dug into York's personal, deeply held beliefs; those beliefs which remained intact throughout his war experience. While serving with the army in Germany Col. Mastriano made multiple visits to the Meuse-Argonne region in France. He investigated the actual battle ground where York fought the Germans and was awarded the MEDAL OF HONOR. Col. Mastriano literally took the initiative to walk the actual battle fields and dig up the areas where the battle was fought. He took with him French and German historians and others seeking to assist him in establishing the actual sight of the battle. Finally, after years of research, he was able to literally correct history. He discovered that the original battle sight and memorial were placed at the wrong location. His tireless and determined group finally found the real battle sight and were able, in conjunction with the French and German governments, to officially place a Memorial at the correct location. Colonel Mastriano has written a book that would glue anyone to its pages, whether a stay at home mother, a student in school, or a former or current military member of the Armed Forces. This book was written to be enjoyed by all people, in all walks of life. I found it to be technically impeccable. The research and explanation of how the soldiers suffered during that war I found most compelling. Most importantly, his book did an incredible job of allowing us to see into the heart and soul of a man named Sgt. Alvin York and how God saved his life and changed it forever. It may be the finest biography I have ever read.

Deserves more than five stars! Impeccably researched, documented and written. The story you will find refreshing in today's world. American valor, spiritual vitality, patriotic deeds. Hard to find the words to give you an idea how good this book is and how it reflects the best of society in the act of crushing out the worst. Read it!

I have recently read almost everything currently in print, or otherwise easily available about Sgt. York. The author of this book is one of the few that spent much time doing actual research, rather than just reformatting what had already been written elsewhere. Mastriano does a thorough military analysis of York's battle, covering cause and effect. He does a forensic review of the battlefield, retracing York's steps with great detail. Unlike many authors, he also addresses the German side; the units, commanders and deployment. For the military historian interested in York's battle, this is the best book I have found.

very good book