Alvin Cullum York was born December 13, 1887 in a two room log cabin near Pall Mall, Tennessee. As an adult, York regularly attended church, and as a result he was a man of strong faith. Following the outbreak of World War I, York discovered the great possibility of being drafted into the armed services. As a man of strong Christian faith, he was strongly opposed to violence in any form. When York registered for the draft, the question,"Do you claim exemption from the draft? (If so specify grounds)," on the registration form was briefly answered with,"Yes. Don't want to fight." His original claim for  conscientious objector status was denied, and he sent a formal appeal. In November, 1917, while his appeal was pending, York was drafted, and so began his service in Camp Gordon, Georgia. While in Camp Gordon, York spoke at length with his company commander, Captain Edward Courtney Bullock Danforth and his battalion commander, Major Gonzalo Edward Buxton about about the principles with which a soldier fights for his country. It was there in Camp Gordon that he denied ever having claimed conscientious objector status and decided to fight for his country. During the St. Mihiel Offensive, York's battalion was given the task to capture German positions along the Decauville Rail Line, north of Chatel Chehery, France. During the assault, York heroically, and as many accounts suggest, single handedly saved his brothers in arms from what seemed to be certain demise from German positions. When the smoke had cleared, York and what remained of his men returned from the battlefield with some one hundred thirty German prisoners. For his heroic acts, he was promptly promoted from Corporal to Sergeant and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, as well as the French Croix de Guerre, the French Legion of Honor, and Italy awarded him its Croce di Guerra al Merito and its Montenegro. In all, York returned home with nearly fifty awards. It was later that Sgt York went on to found Alvin C. York Institute. It is for these reasons that Sgt. Alvin C. York serves as a role model for every cadet and student at the institute.