How To Wrestle With A Difficult Decision: Advice From Sergeant Alvin C. York - The Art of Manliness

How to Wrestle with a Difficult Decision: Advice from Sergeant Alvin C.
York | The Art of Manliness 23/07/2013 17:22
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How to Wrestle with a Difficult Decision: Advice

from Sergeant Alvin C. York
by Brett & Kate McKay on June 3, 2013 · 42 comments
in A Man's Life
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/06/03/how-to-wrestle-with-a-difficult-decision-advice-from-sergeant-alvin-c-york/ Page 1 of 21
How to Wrestle with a Difficult Decision: Advice from Sergeant Alvin C. York | The Art of Manliness 23/07/2013 17:22
Corporal Alvin C. York silently led his squad of men through the thick underbrush and dense fog of the Argonne Forest early the morning
of October 8, 1918. His regiment had been tasked with charging down Hill 223 and making their way across an open plain towards the
Decauville Railroad. Their mission was to cut off this supply line in hopes of pressuring the Germans to surrender. But the plain had been
surrounded by machine gun nests, and the Americans were besieged as they made their way across, the gunfire felling them in a way that
reminded York of how the mowing machines back home sliced through thick grass. York’s regiment had become hopelessly isolated and
pinned down. If they couldn’t silence the constant barrage of artillery and advance, other troops would soon easily be overcome by a
German pincer attack.
The commander of York’s Company G, Captain E.C.B. Danforth, ordered 3 of his squads to attempt to slip
behind German lines and launch an attack from the rear. Having already lost 7 from their ranks, 17 men – 4
noncommissioned officers, including York, and 13 privates – made their way into the mist and trees in search of
the enemy.
What they encountered first were two stretcher bearers, who took off at the sight of the Americans. York and
the others gave chase, and the fleeing men led them straight to a camp of Germans calmly eating their breakfast.
The Americans had found a Prussian encampment – reinforcements waiting to be called up for battle. Surprised
to see the enemy behind the frontlines and caught totally unaware, the Germans dropped their plates, threw up
their hands, and surrendered. But as York and the others attempted to round up their new POWs, a German
officer yelled to the machine gunners at the front to swivel around and begin firing on the Americans. In
moments, 6 were killed and 3 wounded. Included among the casualties were the 3 other noncoms, leaving
Corporal York in command.
While the remaining 7 privates took cover, York alone continued to fire at the enemy, methodically picking off
the German machine gunners one by one. As soon a soldier popped his head up over the gun emplacements,
York would take him out with a single shot.
Not that York was eager to kill the men. After each round he yelled: “That’s enough now! You boys quit and
come on down!” None of the Germans took him up on the offer, however, forcing the corporal to continue to
quiet one position after another.
Yet York was not out of danger yet. A line of 6 Germans now came sprinting out of the woods in a bayonet
charge. Having exhausted his rifle ammunition, York drew his sidearm, a Colt .45, to mount a defense. Taking a
lesson learned from his duck hunting days – that picking off the one in the rear rather than the leader caught the
group by surprise — York took out the last man in the line first, and then made his way to the front, leveling
each German in turn with a single bullet. Of course this method allowed the first man in the line to come
dangerously close to reaching the corporal, but with only a yard between he and the last German, York
dispatched him with his final shot.
When the corporal turned his attention back to his 7 privates and 20 POWs, he saw that a German commander
among the latter had been firing at him the whole time from behind! York disarmed the would-be assassin, and
had his men organize the Germans for a march. As the group made their way towards the front lines, York came
across a Prussian platoon commander and then a battalion commander as well, both of whom he promptly
added to his contingent of prisoners. With the way the thick forest obscured one’s line of sight, the gunfire, and
general confusion of the day, these German leaders assumed that York and his privates were merely the advance
guard of a much larger force. When the battalion commander asked York how many men he had, York
answered confidently: “Oh, I got a-plenty!”
York had the German battalion commander blow his whistle to signal a cease-fire, to keep the Prussians from
firing on them as they added more POWs to their entourage and continued to make their way to the front. As
York approached the American lines, he had to be sure to call out to let his fellow doughboys know that this
large line of Germans was in fact under the control of American soldiers!
York delivered his prisoners to regimental headquarters. It had been a little over 3 hours since the start of
Company G’s mission, and in that time York had nearly single-handedly killed 20 of the enemy, silenced 35
machine guns, captured 3 officers and 129 enlisted men, and broken up a battalion that was about to launch a
counterattack against the Americans on Hill 223. When he moved the POWs onto division headquarters,
General Julian R. Lindsey remarked, “Well, York, I hear you have captured the whole damn German Army.”
“No, sir,” York, replied. “I only got 132 of them.”
For York’s battlefield heroism, he was made a sergeant and awarded 40 of the greatest military awards a soldier
can garner on either continent, including the Medal of Honor. When General “Blackjack” Pershing pinned upon
him the Distinguished Service Cross, he called York the “greatest civilian-soldier of the war.”
York’s story of bravery, confidence, and resolve is surely remarkable. But what makes it even more
extraordinary is what one would have found by thumbing through his military file — a slip of paper which read:
“Desires release as he is a conscientious objector.”
One of the most decorated American fighters of WWI had initially not wanted to be a fighter at all.
How Alvin C. York decided between his religious convictions against war and his desire to serve his country
can provide every man with a pattern of how to wrestle with the weightiest decisions of our lives.
York’s Decision
Alvin C. York was born December 13, 1887 in Pall Mall — a tiny outpost of civilization tucked away in
Tennessee’s beautiful Valley of the Three Forks of the Wolf. Surrounded by hickory and oak-covered
mountains, York grew up with ten brothers and sisters in a small two-room cabin. The children’s mother was a
sturdy but loving backwoodswoman, their father a kind, hard working, upright farmer and blacksmith who
scraped out a meager but sufficient rural living. Young Alvin received only a few months of schooling, and was
often by his father’s side as a boy, learning his craft by the forge and accompanying him on nighttime hunting
trips with the family’s hounds.
When York was 24, his father died, and with his two older brothers married and moved away, Alvin became the
new head of the household. He embraced his responsibility to care for his mother and eight remaining siblings,
and took jobs farming, smithing, and building roads to provide for them. But without his father’s watchful and
loving influence, York soon developed some rebellious new habits. He started smoking, gambling, swearing,
and drinking – chugging bottles of moonshine with a new crowd of rough associates. He spent most days of the
week visiting ramshackle saloons where he often got into fights with the other patrons. He was hauled into court
for shooting a neighbor’s turkeys for sport and selling weapons illegally. He embarrassed his family by shooting
up a tree outside the local church while services were being held and stumbling drunk and belligerent through a
community picnic. He was rude, disrespectful, and surly, and now 29, still had no prospects for marriage.
York’s mother admonished him to change his ways and lay in bed each night waiting for him to come home
from another round of cavorting, praying for him to get his life back on track and desperately worried that his
next fight might be his last.
Late one night, as York once again stumbled in drunk through the door of the family cabin, he was surprised to
see his mother sitting in a rocking chair by the fire. He hadn’t known she always stayed awake at night waiting
for him, and had never seen her up at such an hour. She turned to her son, fixed her gaze upon him, and softly
asked: “Alvin, when are you going to be a man like your father and grandfather?” Mother York had pleaded
with her wayward son for years to change his ways, but had never been so direct — never before appealed to
the examples of his lineage, the men whose blood he shared. York’s father had never drank, swore, or smoked.
He had been a pillar in the community, with a sterling reputation among his neighbors for complete honesty and
fairness. His grandfather had also been known as a man who always did what was right.
His mother’s simple but piercing question brought York up short. Thinking of these two upright men and his
rich heritage of manhood, and then of his three years of drifting, he was hit with the sudden, deep realization of
how selfish and irresponsible he had been, how much money and time and trust he had wasted, how empty he
felt, and how far he had departed from the man he wished to be, from the man his father would have been proud
of. He fell to his knees, put his head into his mother’s lap, and wept. She too began to cry; it was the first time
York had ever seen his mother shed tears.
“Mother,” Alvin began, “I promise you tonight that I will never drink again as long as I live. I will never smoke
or chew again. I will never gamble again. I will never cuss or fight again. I will live the life God wants me to
live.” It was just past midnight on New Year’s Day, 1915, and Alvin York had begun a brand new chapter in his
life.
Determined to walk the straight and narrow, York confessed his sins and was saved at a revival meeting weeks
later. He threw himself into his new Christian faith with a convert’s zeal – making good on his promise to clean
up his life, studying the Bible as often as he could, and admonishing his neighbors to live more piously. He
joined a new church – the Church of Christ in Christian Union — and became the congregation’s elder, song
leader, and Sunday school teacher.
Life was coming together beautifully for Alvin York. His faith gave him purpose, he got engaged to a woman
he thought was the prettiest and most chaste in the whole valley, and he supported his family by working hard at
farming, blacksmithing, and other jobs. He spent his Saturdays hunting with his hounds and engaging in
marksmanship contests with the other men in town, and his Sundays belting out hymns from the pew. He had
never felt so hopeful and fulfilled, and he looked forward to a long life of simple peace and purpose amongst his
friends and loved ones.
But on June 5, 1917, the outside world suddenly intruded upon the bucolic peace of the Valley of the Three
Forks of the Wolf. York opened his mailbox to find a small, red postcard instructing him to register with his
local draft board. The war had come to rural Tennessee and Alvin York had been called upon to serve his
country “over there.”
York immediately felt his heart and mind torn asunder. He considered himself a patriotic American and wanted
to do his duty. But his church opposed violence and war. How could he ever hope to reconcile these divergent
values?
York went to talk to his friend and pastor, Rosier Pile. His reluctance to serve wasn’t because he was afraid to
fight or to die or even to leave his fiancée and the happy life he’d been building in the valley, he explained to
his mentor. The core of the issue was simply his faith: “I’ve been converted to the gospel of peace and love and
of ‘Do good for evil.’ Fight! Kill! I never killed nobody, even in my bad days, and I don’t want to begin now. I
turned my back on all those rowdy things and found a heap of comfort and happiness in religion. I joined the
church and took its creed with no reservation. I believe in the Bible, and the Bible says, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’
That’s so definite a child could understand it. There’s no way around or out of it.” York had vowed never to
fight again – could he break that promise to his mother, his God, and himself? Was it possible to be a good
Christian and a good citizen? He discussed that question with Pile for the next hour, and every day after that.
And he pondered it alone, spending hours in the woods, thinking, praying, and studying his scriptures.
York knew that no matter what he decided, he had to at least fill out and send back the draft card, so he wrote,
“I don’t want to fight” across it and mailed it in. Together with Pile, he composed a letter explaining his desire
to be exempted from service on religious grounds and sent it to the county draft board. The board denied his
petition, saying that the Church of Christ in Christian Union did not have an official doctrine or declaration on
non-violence or war, save their interpretation of the Bible. York filed an appeal at the district level, but was
once again turned down.
York could see no way around shipping out – he wasn’t a man who ran away from his problems and he didn’t
want the government to stir up trouble in his town by having to come take him by force. He resigned himself to
the idea of becoming a soldier, and when the call to service came, he boarded a train for basic training in
Georgia. With seemingly no way out, he was determined to pull his own weight, while still holding onto his
values as best he could. He embraced the training with full effort and without complaint, and though his fellow
soldiers did a whole lot of drinking, smoking, swearing, and going AWOL, York abstained. He didn’t begrudge
them their good time, however, and earned their respect by showcasing the unbelievably sharp marksman skills
he had honed growing up in Pall Mall and his adroit knowledge of weaponry learned inside his father’s
blacksmith shop.
Yet while York tried to concentrate on the task at hand, he would soon find that the most gut-wrenching
decision of his life was hardly behind him. While he had decided to let the matter drop, back home, Pile and his
mother had continued to work to get him an exemption from service. York was mailed papers from the War
Department confirming his status as a conscientious objector; all he had to do was sign them and head home.
But York found that seeing the choice of officially embracing the label of conscientious objector plainly spelled
out like that for the first time now filled him with doubt. Was exiting the service really the right decision after
all? The rift between York’s commitment to his country, and his commitment to his faith yawned open once
again, and he felt completely lost as to what to do.
York spent the next few weeks thinking and praying through the question to figure out what decision to make,
but the answer remained frustratingly elusive. He turned over the options again and again in his mind, but in
place of clarity, he just felt more and more tangled up in knots.
As basic training drew to a close, the pressure to make a final decision became intense and unavoidable. He
decided to talk honestly about his inner turmoil with company commander Captain Danforth and his battalion
commander, Major Gonzalo Edward Buxton, who also considered himself a devout Christian. Buxton could see
York’s sincere desire to make the right choice, and he made a date for the men to get together and try to sort
through the issue as best they could.
A few nights later, York closed his prayer, rose from his knees, and walked from his barracks to the major’s
quarters. Inside a sparsely decorated room, York, Buxton, and Danforth sat on camp stools, the Bibles on their
laps illuminated by a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling. Buxton began by saying: “I don’t want to
discuss this question as a battalion commander discussing it with an officer and a private. I want to discuss it as
three American citizens interested in a common cause. I respect any honest religious conviction and am here to
talk through them man to man.” Then began an earnest dialogue where Buxton and York traded questions and
quoted Bible verses back and forth:
Buxton: Why are you opposed to going to war?
York: Because I belong to church that disbelieves in fighting and killing, Major.
Buxton: What sort of church creed do you have that tells you this?
York: The only creed is the Bible, which I have done accepted as the inspired word of God and
final authority for all men.
Buxton: What do you find in the Bible that’s against war?
York: The Bible says, “Thou shalt not kill.”
Buxton: Do you accept everything in the Bible—every sentence, every word—as completely as you
accept the sixth commandment?
York: Yes, sir, I do.
Buxton: What about Luke 22? “He that hath no sword, let him sell his cloak and buy one.”
York: “If a man smite you on one cheek, turn the other to him.”
Buxton: “For my kingdom is not of this world; but if my kingdom were of this world, then would
my servants fight.”
York: “They that live by the sword shall die by the sword.”
Buxton: “Render unto Caesar’s the things that are Caesar’s.” We must fight for our earthly
government whenever its liberties are threatened. Christians have a duty to their leaders.
York spoke of Jesus restoring the ear that Peter sliced off of the high priest. Buxton countered with a violent
Jesus chasing the moneychangers out of the temple.
And on it went for more than an hour. But as the discussion wound to a close, far from feeling he had gotten an
answer, York felt more confused than ever. He said a short prayer as he rose to leave and shook hands with the
major. “I’d like some time to think it over,” he told Buxton. “In the meantime I’ll go on just as I have been,
doing everything I’m told to do and trying to be a good soldier.”
“Take all the time you like and come to me any time you need to,” the major replied. Then Buxton sent York on
his way with a copy of The History of United States, suggesting that it might be helpful to read up on the lives
of founding fathers who had combined piety with a fighting patriotism. York returned to his barracks and
collapsing on a cot, pondered the night’s discussion. For the hundredth time, he searched his heart for an
answer. But as on every night prior, neither path made itself known as the right one.
York continued to constantly wrestle with whether to become a conscientious objector or ship out as a soldier,
but found it difficult to discern an answer in a place of constant noise and interruptions. So he applied for and
received a ten-day leave, and made his way back home to the Valley of the Three Forks of the Wolf and its
desperately needed stillness.
As soon as he returned, York spoke once again with Pastor Pile, going over all the scriptures Buxton had used
during their discussion. He also talked and prayed with his mother and his fiancée. And yet his cloud of
confusion did not abate. As his leave time grew shorter and shorter, his need to make a decision began to feel
desperate and all-consuming.
Finally, York decided to seek his answer in complete solitude. He climbed through the mountains to a favorite
spot – a rock ledge which sat between two boulders, and offered a view of the entire valley and its winding
river. It was here he had pondered his faith and future many times before, and it was here he was determined to
get an answer to his question once and for all. Under a canopy of trees and blue sky, he thought over the
scriptures that seemed to condone or condemn earthly violence, and he pondered whether God could use war for
a greater good — as a violent means to a more peaceful end. Could war be a tool of the peacemaker?
York pondered and prayed all the day long, sometimes silently and sometimes aloud. When the sun set, and the
stars emerged brightly in the sky, he built himself a fire and continued to plead with God to show him the right
path. As he gazed into the endless night sky, Alvin York finally got his answer:
“As I prayed there alone, a great peace kind of come into my soul and a great calm come over me,
and I received my assurance. He heard my prayer and He come to me on the mountainside. I didn’t
see Him, of course, but he was there just the same. I knowed he was there. He understood that I
didn’t want to be a fighter or a killing man, that I didn’t want to go to war to hurt nobody nohow.
And yet I wanted to do what my country wanted me to do. I wanted to serve God and my country,
too. He understood all of this. He seen right inside of me, and He knowed I had been troubled and
worried, not because I was afraid, but because I put Him first, even before my country, and I only
wanted to do what would please Him.”
So He took pity on me and He gave me the assurance I needed. I didn’t understand everything. I
didn’t understand how He could let me go to war and even kill and yet not hold it against me. I
didn’t even want to understand. It was His will and that was enough for me. So at last I begun to
see the light. I begun to understand that no matter what a man is forced to do, so long as he is right
in his own soul he remains a righteous man. I knowed I would go to war. I knowed I would be
protected from all harm, and that so long as I believed in Him He would not allow even a hair on
my head to be harmed.”
As the sun rose over the valley, York offered a prayer of gratitude and climbed down from the mountain. He
headed home to pack his bags and begin his journey back to Georgia, and from there, the battlefields of Europe.
A Pattern for Decision-Making: How to Apply the Story of Alvin C. York to Your Own
Life
Alvin York was a religious man, with a decision to make that was religious in nature. But try to set aside the
details of his faith and his dilemma in order to look at the broader pattern of how he grappled with his question
in order to find an answer. Not all men will share York’s religious convictions, or face a choice that puts their
faith and their citizenship at odds. But all men can benefit from following the same pattern of answer-seeking
when faced with the tough, weighty questions of life. I’m not talking about questions that can be figured out by
drawing up a list of pros and cons, like which car to buy or even what to major in (that question can feel
weighty at the time, but often doesn’t affect your future as much as you think it will).
Rather I’m talking about the questions that come with profound consequences, the ones that tear you in two –
difficult dilemmas where making a decision seems both scary and nearly impossible. You got your girlfriend
pregnant and now you’re discussing different options: abortion, adoption, keep the baby? Should you drop out
of medical school to start your own business? Should you pull the plug on your comatose wife? Is your
girlfriend “the one,” and should you ask her to marry you? Should you join the military or go to grad school?
When faced with a big question where you’re not sure what to do, find your answer by following the pattern of
discovery that York laid out:
1. Sort through your motivations.
Before York could even consider what he needed to do, he had to make sure he honestly understood the
motivations that had created the dilemma in the first place and were driving him towards each option. He knew
he wasn’t scared of violence, and when he looked within he didn’t find that he feared being killed or resented
having to leave his old life behind. He could truthfully say that it really was a matter of his faith conflicting with
his patriotism.
Oftentimes, we come up with false reasons for settling on certain options. We say that a path just isn’t practical,
when we’re really worried about disappointing our parents. We cherry-pick a religious justification as a reason
for not doing something, when really we’re just scared to do it or can’t bear to put the responsibility for the
decision on ourselves. But before we can choose between different options, we need to honestly understand and
assess why we’ve chosen those possible paths in the first place.
2. Ask others for advice.
The first thing York did was to seek counsel about his dilemma from his pastor and mentor. But had he stopped
there, with the man who headed the church that preached that war was wrong, his perspective wouldn’t have
been very balanced. Instead, he also discussed the issue with Major Buxton, a man who had reconciled his faith
with a professional military career. This gave York a look at both sides of the coin.
As you seek an answer to a difficult question, try to gather as much information about the situation and your
options as you can. You want to make as informed a decision as possible. One part of this “research” phase is
asking for feedback from friends, family, and mentors. They may have a perspective to share that you hadn’t
thought of and can help you see your options and beliefs in a different light. If you can find someone to talk to
who has been through a very similar situation, all the better. Other people can’t ultimately tell you what to do
(and don’t let them – notice that York ultimately made the decision on his own), but they can add greatly to
your understanding of the pros and cons and likely consequences of your decision, and what other people might
do if they were in your shoes.
3. Study the question out.
Besides asking others for advice, the other part of the information-gathering phase is to study the question as
much as possible. This may mean reading your scriptures like York did, and as well as reading the biographies
of men who came to the same kind of crossroads. You may want to tuck into a treatise of philosophy, or read up
on the city you’re thinking of moving to. If you’re grappling with a medical question, this will mean not only
talking to your doctor, but getting a second opinion, and perhaps looking over research studies that have been
done on the subject as well. Do your part to gather all of the relevant information available to you so that you
can be sure you are making a completely informed decision.
4. Ponder what you have learned.
York spent hours walking through the woods and mulling over what he had studied and what others had shared
with him. Do likewise. As you gather as much information about your different options as you can, take time to
ponder what you’ve learned. When you read something or talk to someone, what leaves you feeling empty and
confused? What feels like it illuminates your mind or makes your heart swell?
5. Pray/meditate in solitude to make the decision.
Even after months of talking it over, pondering, studying, and praying, York felt no clearer about what to do
than when his draft card first arrived in the mail. This is typical of big decisions. The research phase of the
process may make you better informed, but it won’t necessarily illuminate the right answer in neon lights. For
this reason, people often get stuck in the information-gathering phase, both hoping that talking to just one more
person will suddenly make things crystal clear, and also fearing to finally pull the trigger.
But once you’ve thoroughly examined the question from all sides, the research phase must come to an end. It’s
time to make a decision.
Once you’re ready to receive your answer, you would be well served to follow York’s example of finding a
place of quiet and solitude where you won’t be interrupted and can be alone with your thoughts. The stillness of
nature provides a perfect setting.
If you’re not a theist, at least of the variety that believes in communication between God and man, then spend
your time in solitude meditating on your decision, trying to locate within yourself what you really believe is the
best thing to do.
If you are a theist, you’ve probably been praying all along for guidance and wisdom. Now is the time to really
plead with God to show you which path to take. Unlike York, I personally believe in not asking the open-ended
question of “What should I do?” but rather coming to your own decision based on the studying and pondering
you’ve done, and then presenting that choice to God for confirmation or rejection. Do you feel a sense of peace
and assurance in your heart like York did, or do you feel a numbness or dullness and a continuation of your
confusion?
Whether you use meditation or prayer as the avenue to reach an answer to your question, I believe you can
know you’re on the right path when both your heart and mind are in agreement. Each alone can led a man
astray. But when they are aligned, you’ve usually found your answer.
6. Move forward with confidence.
It’s important to note that even after York’s inspirational mountaintop experience, doubts about his decision still
came to him occasionally. In fact, as soon as he got back to boot camp he found himself wondering again if he
was doing the right thing, and even got another letter inquiring about his desire for CO status – talk about
temptation to open up the issue all over again! And when he got over to Europe and had to do bayonet drills on
dummies, he questioned whether he could really do the same thing to another man. But York didn’t let those
occasional doubts get in the way of doing his duty; he would pray and reflect on the answer he had already
received and then keep pressing forward. He continued to confidently embrace his choice and strive to be the
best soldier he could rather than existing in a state of ambiguity and just getting by. Through his determination,
a man who first said, “I don’t want to fight,” became a leader of other men and the hero of the war.
Even if you feel absolutely sure of your decision, you’ll still question yourself sometimes about it just like York
did. That’s completely normal. But you can’t retreat from your decision and go back to straddling the fence and
constantly asking “what if?” Fence-sitters end up with one piece of themselves down one road and another
piece down another; they fail to progress and miss out on the benefits that walking fully down either path would
have brought them. Instead, when you have times of doubt, simply reflect upon the decision-making process
you already went through to get where you are; if the conditions upon which you made your decision have not
radically changed, feel assured that you made the right choice and move forward. That’s what’s so powerful
about this process, rather than just making a big decision will-nilly by default, you can always look back and
know you did all you could do to come to the best decision possible and continue to embrace that choice and
live with confidence.
__________________
Source:
Sgt. York: His Life and Legacy by John Perry
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{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
1 Jordan Holt June 3, 2013 at 11:37 pm
Like most of our era, I often allow myself to become so bombarded with constant connectivity and media
that I forget that a time to meditate and simply “be alone” can be a powerful tool for sorting out the tough
decisions of life. Thanks for a reminder through a great American hero and a deeply conscientious man.
A Tennessean myself, I’ve been up to his grave in Pall Mall. That serene valley is a perfect reflection of
all I’ve read and heard about Alvin York.
2 TheRenegade June 4, 2013 at 12:20 am
What an Amazing way to come to a decision that can Ultimately Change the course of your life…
3 Michael Vuke June 4, 2013 at 12:41 am
Thank you for this post.
I’ve been facing down one of these decisions for a few months now, and I feel no closer to resolution than
I was when I first started (in fact, I feel more confused and torn than ever). Even though our situations are
completely different, it means a lot to read of someone else who went through this sort of thing and
decided.
The advice at the end is also wonderful–I’ve already taken some of those steps, but I will be working to
implement the rest of them asap.
4 Josh P. June 4, 2013 at 1:52 am
Amazing article!! I have never heard of this man, and I am grateful to have heard his story. I can relate to
him on many levels.
5 Jeff June 4, 2013 at 2:31 am
Profound
6 Kevin June 4, 2013 at 4:02 am
Hey, Brett,
I just really want to say how great an article this is and thanks so much for sharing it with us. It is
reminiscent of B.A. Baracus’ dilemma in the recent A-Team movie. But this one really explains and
develops the resolution better. Great website. And please, keep it up!
7 Remy Sheppard June 4, 2013 at 5:44 am
“Move Forward With Confidence” I think is, easily, the most important step. As you mentioned – doubt
came back to him. It happens with big decisions.
I think one of the truest traits of a man is his ability to move forward with confidence. You’ve made a
decision, now be secure in what you’ve decided.
This was an awesome article, man. His military history was intriguing but his biography was inspiring.
Thanks for this.
8 Andrei June 4, 2013 at 6:01 am
I find the story quite inspiring. It is remarkable how this man not only changed his mind, but also did his
best to be a good soldier. Decision-making and assuming responsibility for your choice is perhaps the
hardest part of being a man.
9 Adam June 4, 2013 at 6:16 am
A great article and what an amazing man. Add one more person to the list of people I need to emulate.
Thank you.
10 Jason P. Franklin June 4, 2013 at 7:19 am
Sgt. Alvin York is one of my favorite figures in U.S. History precisely because of his deep internal
struggle between his faith and his patriotism. Thanks for highlighting him and using his struggle to
present some good advice on decision making.
11 Alex Ortiz June 4, 2013 at 7:29 am
Yet another great post Brett and Kate. I have been reading your site since 2010 and have found some
great insights into what real manhood is. I also recently bought your Manvotionals book from Amazon
and I have to say it is really inspiring.
This post especially hits home for me as I am currently going through a separation with my wife. Having
been apart from 6+ months, there is really no more anger towards her as she was the one who left but I
am still torn. I am young, only 23. A part of me desperately wants to work out our issues and respects the
lifetime commitment that is marriage. Yet another part of me, feels like there needs to be two people
willing to fight for the relationship in order for it to work. Since she is not willing to fight for the
relationship, I am inclined, on a daily basis to just give up.
What to do? Should I continue pressing forward and wait for her to “come around”? Or should I file for
divorce and begin building a new life?
Weighty decision indeed. This post has pointed me in the right direction and I thank you both for that.
Please feel free to provide any insights/advice you can on my situation.
12 Keith June 4, 2013 at 7:40 am
Thanks for this post! Hollywood also made a movie of this story, starring Gary Cooper, not as good as the
written story by Sgt. York, but still very good.
13 Anthony June 4, 2013 at 8:12 am
Very well-written article. I thought it presented York’s struggles fairly. York’s fame comes from his
battlefield heroics, but the reason he could do that was because he had already fought with himself, and
won.
“Sergeant York” is the movie based on his life. Alvin York himself insisted that Gary Cooper play him.
The movie handled the issues well: it shows him in his “bad days” (somewhat dramatized), but is also
very respectful of his religious conversion and struggle with his conscientious objections, including that
conversation with Major Buxton. It’s a war movie, but it’s really about a man learning to be a man.
14 Barbara June 4, 2013 at 9:12 am
I had never heard of this man before today- but what an amazing person! Thank you for this article and
teaching me about him.
15 Andy June 4, 2013 at 9:17 am
Thank you for this, it was truly a joy to read.
I lead a young men’s bible study (high school age), and we’ve been wrestling through what Godly
decisions look like and this hit the nail on the head.
It’s interesting how we mature from making obvious decisions between right and wrong, into making
decisions that have significant positive and negative implications either way.
16 Richard Williams June 4, 2013 at 9:23 am
Great piece Brett! York has been a hero of mine for many, many years. I’m a little surprised no one has
mentioned the classic movie about York, starring Gary Cooper as York and Walter Brennan as York’s
mountain preacher. See:
http://youtu.be/W87k64HU9gE
Watching It would be a GREAT way to celebrate July 4th!
Also, here’s a link to an old newsreel reporting York’s death:
http://youtu.be/5dQ3CCo6OUI
17 jerry June 4, 2013 at 9:33 am
Life is never as difficult as you may think….but never so easy as you may desire.
Sgt York was and has always been at the very top of my movie list along with The Grapes of Wrath.
Semper Fidelis
18 MB June 4, 2013 at 10:11 am
Excellent article, Brett & Kate. Thank you. Loved the section about fence sitting, confidence, and moving
forward.
19 Jack June 4, 2013 at 10:27 am
Well done, Brett! Truthful, inspiring, and applicable.
20 Don B June 4, 2013 at 11:04 am
If you’ve put forth honest research, deliberation and thought into a decision, meditation/prayer/a good
night’s sleep can reveal a lot of insight.
I’m a firm believer that our subconscious will work through whatever deep, complex issue we’re dealing
with, even while we sleep, and the ‘aha’ moment is right there when we wake.
21 Chris June 4, 2013 at 11:35 am
Loved this article. It was the first thing I read this morning and helped me hone my perspective for the
day and the future. It really sums up the complex issues and how we can go about resolving them. Great
work.
22 George June 4, 2013 at 12:26 pm
I noticed something else about Mr. York’s decision making process that I think is important: He put off
making the decision as long as possible.
He recognized that it was an important (and difficult) decision and so he gave himself as much time as
possible to ponder it. I think this is a characteristic of most who manage to make good decisions.
I completely agree with go forth with confidence. Once the decision is made, regardless of how unsure
you may still be, move forward with purpose.
23 Sergey Zabarin June 4, 2013 at 12:53 pm
This article was a great help as I am currently try to decide whether or not to volunteer for another tour in
Afghanistan or finish college and start building a life with my GF. Many thanks for this post, it definitely
helped me clarify some things.
24 Tate June 4, 2013 at 4:02 pm
“Buxton: “Render unto Caesar’s the things that are Caesar’s.” We must fight for our earthly government
whenever its liberties are threatened. Christians have a duty to their leaders.”
This is a statement badly taken out of context. Saying “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” doesn’t
imply that you owe anything to Caesar. Jesus had to give cryptic answers to the Pharisees lest they arrest
him on the spot. He couldn’t very well say, “Taxation is theft!” now, could he?
Secondly, it seems strange to talk about a government’s liberties being threatened. Weren’t governments
established ostensibly to protect the freedoms of individuals?
25 Aaron S. June 4, 2013 at 4:05 pm
This is a great article, and I’ll try to take its theme to heart. There’s one thing I feel obligated to point out.
The three quotes that Buxton uses to justify participation in warfare actually forbid Christians from
participating in warfare, if you read the rest of the verses.
When Jesus orders his disciples to buy swords, they come back with 2 swords. Jesus tells them to speak
no more about swords (he doesn’t say “that’s great, go buy more swords”.) Incidentally, one of these two
swords is used to cut the ear off of the soldier in Gethsemane, which Jesus immediately heals and orders
his disciples not to fight. It seems to me, from reading all of Luke, that Jesus is referring to spiritual war –
that his disciples must be ready to fight not with swords, but with faith.
As for the “Render unto Caesar” quote. Money is issued by the government, therefore the government can
demand that a citizen return it. Lives are issued only by God; therefore only God can demand its return.
So while a Christian must pay taxes, and submit to the punishment of the law, etc., he cannot take a life
because it violates the command to “render unto God what is God’s.”
Finally, the part that says “my kingdom is not of this world [and thus Christians must not fight].” I think
that’s pretty clear. I’m not sure how “But if things were different, then you could fight if you wanted”
justifies violence?
Anyway – I love the articles, and I find York’s story inspiring. But I just wanted to point out those three
misunderstandings of the bible! Thanks.
26 Scoutmaster June 4, 2013 at 6:39 pm
I hold Sgt. York up to my boys as the finest example of American manhood. Thank you very much for
posting this. We need to help grow some men like him in this generation.
27 ben June 4, 2013 at 7:45 pm
My mother always told me about Sgt.York and I saw the very good movie starring Gary Cooper.
Also very important is knowing a bad situation doesn’t give you permission to act like a jerk. Be proper
about everything express you feelings about what you don’t agree on.
And a verse they could have used was John the Baptist talking to the roman soldiers in Luke 3:7-14. They
asked him what they should do. He didn’t tell them to quit being soldiers.
28 louis June 4, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Now watch the movie, sergeant York!
29 Karel June 5, 2013 at 3:37 am
Thank you. I am at such a junction and this lesson came at the perfect time.
30 edward June 5, 2013 at 8:46 am
Thanks for this. I really needed this article.
31 Aaron S. June 5, 2013 at 10:28 am
Regarding the comment that a quote from John the Baptist can justify participation in war – he says that
the soldiers should be content with their jobs as soliders, as long as they do not extort money through
threats or violence. This is the essence of warfare – to make gains for one’s nation through violence. As I
read it, John says “Be content with your job as a soldier, if you can be a soldier without doing the things a
soldier must do.”
I can certainly see how some would disagree with my interpretation, but one thing is inarguable: as
Christians, we look to Christ as our example. His word supersedes the words of all others, including his
disciples and the previous prophets. And he forbids the participation of his followers in war.
32 Andy June 5, 2013 at 5:37 pm
@ Alex Ortiz –
Try Mort Fertel

http://www.marriagemax.com/
God Bless.
33 Matt June 6, 2013 at 12:30 am
Wow! Thanks, Brett and Kate, for another amazing article. It came at a much needed time. Not only did it
help me work through a tough decision, after reading Sgt. York’s story my problems seem a lot smaller.
Keep up the great work!
34 Ara Bedrossian June 7, 2013 at 10:41 am
You know what I love about this problem? He had to make his own choice.
Sometimes you’ve got to do what’s right. And sometimes you’ve got to do what you think is right.
Thing is, they’re the same.
35 Rory June 8, 2013 at 5:40 am
Thank you for this article. My father often held up Sgt. York to my brothers and I as an example of how a
man conducts himself with dignity, honor, and most importantly to follow one’s conscience whilst
standing firm in one’s commitments.
You should an article on Gen Smedley Butler, most decorated US marine in history, author of “War is a
Racket”. Another inspiring story of a man with a conscience and VERY difficult decisions.
36 David June 10, 2013 at 12:20 pm
Fantastic, well-written article: loved it. In my formative 20s I ran across a hand-written poster of ‘How
To Life A Happy Life’ hanging on the wall of a small burger joint in rural Oregon- looked pretty hokey
really, but it contained one line that resonated within me and has guided me ever since:
“Make small decisions with your head and big decisions with your heart”
I’ve fallen back to that line countless times in my life and have never regretted a big decision made with
my heart. The trick is, as York found out, being able to really hear what your heart is saying.
37 Thom June 10, 2013 at 2:19 pm
Tate, I agree that the power to tax is the power to destroy, but we also have the directive in Romans 13: 1
“Everyone is to obey the governing authorities, because there is no authority except from God and so
whatever authorities exist have been appointed by God.”
But I think the point Buxton was trying to make with York was just what he said. There are times when a
Christian has to fight for the things in which he believes.
38 Randolph June 10, 2013 at 6:21 pm
If you ever find yourself in Lebanon, Va, (that’s far southwest VA near the TN border) the public library
*has* Sgt. York’s Medal of Honor on display. I ran across it about 10 years ago and couldn’t believe my
eyes. I damn near tipped over. I never got the full story on how it got there.
39 Adam June 11, 2013 at 10:15 am
I’m a descendant of his on my great grandfather’s side.
40 Hitesh Kumar .J June 15, 2013 at 11:00 am
Thank you,this article cuts across all nationalities.What an inspirational man , Corporal Alvin C. York is
for the world.I am grateful for this article which has earnestly tried to educate us.
41 erwin July 2, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Great piece! All men have to make tough decisions. Your work is so compelling and old school, contrast
that to the TV show “Survivor”. Time to rewatch “Sgt. York” with Cary Cooper.
42 Zach Willis July 23, 2013 at 3:50 pm
I’m really struggling with pursuing USAF Pararescue. This post reassured me that I am properly
preparing and weighing my decision. Thank you so much for this!
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York | The Art of Manliness 23/07/2013 17:22

The Art of Manliness

Men's Interests and Lifestyle

How to Wrestle with a Difficult Decision: Advice

quiet one position after another.

Buxton: Why are you opposed to going to war?

Buxton: What do you find in the Bible that’s against war?

York: The Bible says, “Thou shalt not kill.”

York: Yes, sir, I do.

1. Sort through your motivations.

2. Ask others for advice.

3. Study the question out.

4. Ponder what you have learned.

5. Pray/meditate in solitude to make the decision.

6. Move forward with confidence.

Sgt. York: His Life and Legacy by John Perry

1. How to Make a Decision Like Ben Franklin

2. Leadership Lessons from Dwight D. Eisenhower #3: How to Make an Important

3. Dating Advice from 1944: How to Pick Your Right Girl

4. Manvotional: “Advice to My Son” by J. Peter Meinke

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{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Jordan Holt June 3, 2013 at 11:37 pm

2 TheRenegade June 4, 2013 at 12:20 am

3 Michael Vuke June 4, 2013 at 12:41 am

Thank you for this post.

4 Josh P. June 4, 2013 at 1:52 am

5 Jeff June 4, 2013 at 2:31 am

6 Kevin June 4, 2013 at 4:02 am

7 Remy Sheppard June 4, 2013 at 5:44 am

8 Andrei June 4, 2013 at 6:01 am

9 Adam June 4, 2013 at 6:16 am

10 Jason P. Franklin June 4, 2013 at 7:19 am

11 Alex Ortiz June 4, 2013 at 7:29 am

12 Keith June 4, 2013 at 7:40 am

13 Anthony June 4, 2013 at 8:12 am

14 Barbara June 4, 2013 at 9:12 am

15 Andy June 4, 2013 at 9:17 am

Thank you for this, it was truly a joy to read.

16 Richard Williams June 4, 2013 at 9:23 am

Watching It would be a GREAT way to celebrate July 4th!

Also, here’s a link to an old newsreel reporting York’s death:

17 jerry June 4, 2013 at 9:33 am

18 MB June 4, 2013 at 10:11 am

19 Jack June 4, 2013 at 10:27 am

Well done, Brett! Truthful, inspiring, and applicable.

20 Don B June 4, 2013 at 11:04 am

21 Chris June 4, 2013 at 11:35 am

22 George June 4, 2013 at 12:26 pm

23 Sergey Zabarin June 4, 2013 at 12:53 pm

24 Tate June 4, 2013 at 4:02 pm

25 Aaron S. June 4, 2013 at 4:05 pm

26 Scoutmaster June 4, 2013 at 6:39 pm

27 ben June 4, 2013 at 7:45 pm

28 louis June 4, 2013 at 8:00 pm

Now watch the movie, sergeant York!

29 Karel June 5, 2013 at 3:37 am

30 edward June 5, 2013 at 8:46 am

Thanks for this. I really needed this article.

31 Aaron S. June 5, 2013 at 10:28 am

32 Andy June 5, 2013 at 5:37 pm