As Corporal York of the 328th Infantry he captured 132 prisoners,
killed twenty-five German machine-gunners and put out of operation
thirty-five machine guns.]
When the United States declared war and conscription came, York was
second elder of his church and, naturally, pastor and congregation
urged him to abide by the doctrine of the church and claim exemption
as a conscientious objector. He was sorely troubled. He believed in
his religion, was soulfully committed to it, but he loved his country
too—and patriotism is also a religion. He refused to claim exemption,
and went with the draft to Camp Gordon in Georgia, but was obviously
unhappy in his divided duty. He talked many times on the subject with
Captain Danforth and Major Buxton. In addition to much reasoning
they cited scriptural passages from the Old and New Testaments, that
convinced him there are times when the sword is the instrument of
divine justice, and before the 82d Division sailed for France, the
conscientious objector declared himself satisfied that he was on the
right course, and gave himself wholeheartedly to the duties of the
soldier.
And a good soldier he was, cheerfully, promptly obedient to orders,
quick in mastering details, and distinguished by the cool, positive
conduct of the self-reliant by habit and of the fearless by nature.
He was made Corporal of Company G, 328th Infantry, 82d Division, a
division made up of representatives of every state in the Union, hence
the A. A. (All-America) in its insignia.