Alvin C. York, Sergeant Company G, 2d Battalion, 328th Infantry, 82d Division, came from the hills of Pall Mall, Tennessee. Alvin was a lot to handle and was even considered a nuisance in his community until he found religion in 1914. His newly found faith caused him to join the Church of Christ in Christian Union in 1915, where his faith required a strong moral code that forbade violence which would eventually be put to the test. [1] Even with his three denials for a conscientious objector exemption on June 5, 1917, Alvin York was drafted into the World War.

Many know Sergeant York was one of the most decorated soldiers during the First World War. Most people would not have put much faith into a draftee who tried to get a service exemption. Especially a draftee with only nine months of schooling and a strong religious faith from the hills of Tennessee. However, Sergeant Alvin C. York did set an example for many years to come with his exploits of bravery during the First World War. However, what he did beyond the Meuse-Argonne Offensive showed his dedication to the core Army value of selfless service after the war.

 Pall Mall Tennessee did not have much, and Sergeant Yorks's upbringing was hard. Always in constant poverty, Sergeant York had to take many jobs and hunt in the mountains to care for his family. This strong self-reliance and mountain living probably cemented his successful unlikely army career. However, Sergeant York saw a bigger world beyond the hills he grew up in during his service in Europe. Like many veterans, we are drawn to service even when our tour is up. Sergeant York was no different; he wanted his community to benefit and grow beyond the hills. Regrettably, Sergeant York did not take well to fame but understood what it could do for the mountains of Tennessee. Using the publicity from his exploits in the First World War, he was able to found York Agricultural Institute in Jamestown, Tennessee, just beyond his hometown of Pall Mall. This school still operates today, helping Sergeant York's community.

As Union Veterans, we understand hardships many would never be able to fathom. Not only do we know what it is like to serve, but many of us also know what it is like to survive. Survival is not just about war; it is, in fact, the many masks that make us who we are regardless of service branch or situation. Survival could be anything from walking to chow at a FOB while stopping to tie your shoe just missing an incoming projectile. Or survival could be just barely making it through A school to be a successful lifesaving Corpsman. It does not matter how you look at survival; it is what you do with the knowledge afterward that makes the difference.

Sergeant York came from a small community that you probably would never have heard of without his exploits. Many Union Veterans come from similar communities like Sergeant York. Still, you do not need a Medal of Honor to make a difference. Like Sergeant York, the difference you make is showing up in your community. You do not need to start a school or rebuild a city block. You just need to show up at a school or pick up a hammer; others will follow. Making a difference in a community shows an example that you are part of the community, and it starts with you. It never happens overnight; however, it will never happen if no one starts it. Being the first to start anything can be frustrating because you can usually never see the end result or progress immediately. However, you should never let that stop you because if you are doing the right thing, you are constantly making a difference. Even if you were never a US Army Ranger, as a Union Veteran, you can live by their motto "Lead the Way." Surely a Ranger would be proud of our union family leading the way to better our communities so others can benefit from the hardships we faced to carry the honor of having the title Union Veteran.

When a veteran becomes a union member, they and labor are unstoppable.

Written By Johnny Walker for the Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO

Johnny Walker is a Union Veteran leader and Activist with SMART-TD Local 610. Johnny is the son of a Teamster, a 20 + year union member, and a US Navy Veteran.