Sergeant York | York Has Target Practice | Warner Classics

[@Bumper776]

I went in the Army in 1971 when I was 17 years old, straight off the farm where I had learned to shoot when I was about 8 or 9 years old with an old .22 rifle. My Basic Combat Training was at Ft. Knox Kentucky. The first day at the firing range we were directed to shoot three rounds from our M-16 rifles at a target at 25 meters to see if we could shoot a tight group. My three rounds were so tight that they could be covered by a quarter. The drill sergeant looked at my target and said: "It looks like we have another Alvin York here." That has been 53 years ago, and I still recall that just as clear as if it happened yesterday.

[@andrecostermans7109]

That reminds me doing my first target practice in the army (1977). After my first shot (Fal, nato ammo) the sergeant told me ' no hit, even not hitting the plate ! '. I told him that can't be possible, there must be something wrong with 'the sights'. He told me to shut up and to start firing those last four bullets. So I did , and the target ( in its whole) felt aside because I just shooted through (shredded) the left pole holding up the target-sign/plate . You should have seen his face and hearing him swear, lol. As you I was shooting rifles at allready a very young age and at the age of 12y I could handle a gauge12 hunting rifle.

[@JR-lg7fd]

ok

[@RobertVerner-uy8os]

Welcome home!

[@graybeard1952]

I was at Ft. Knox in May of 1970. 17 and right out of high school. I managed to qualify as sharpshooter with the M-16 despite never firing a rifle.

[@petermiller114]

​@@andrecostermans710912 Guage is a shotgun, not a rifle, but thank you for your service.

[@silverhammer7779]

Alvin York was a true warrior in every sense of the word. He prayed for peace but, when peace did not come, he did what he had to do. One of my all-time favorite movies.

[@miguelservetus9534]

And for what did he kill all those Germans? To advance the cause of the ruling class? He did what the owners told him to do. He abandoned the lessons of childhood. Both sides claimed God was on their side. Did God ever decide?

[@BumMcFluff]

Praying for peace always works out well. Maybe that's why there were so many religious wars.

[@miguelservetus9534]

Many historians disagree. After Russia signed a peace treaty with Germany, they launched a massive offensive that the infusion of American arms and men played a key role in stopping it. Some even think that Germany might have been successful as Britain and France had a severe manpower issue. It’s complex.

[@robertharding2654]

@@BumMcFluff Not sure you can blame religion on WW1 and WW2

[@BumMcFluff]

@@robertharding2654 Not entirely, but I wasn't referring to them specifically.

[@stevefowler2112]

My experience wasn't quite as dramatic in the Marine Corps, but I had also grown up with rifles and shotguns with my Dad teaching me to shoot as an 8 year old when he bought me my first rifle (an Ithaca single shot .22 short rifle) and subsequently hunting with everything from an Ithaca .22 LR semi auto to a Winchester .30-30 lever action, and a .270 Winchester bolt action and various shotguns. I took to the M16 in '75 in boot on Parris Island like a duck to water. Qualifying one point from a perfect score and receiving my PFC for being High Series shooter. I had the only nice words spoken to me in my 13 weeks two and a half days on Parris Island when after Qual day my Sr. DI handed me my card and said "you were high score in the Series, nice shooting".

[@ekimp252]

You had two more nice words spoken to you than I did 😂. The truest thing we were told on Parris Island was the night before graduation when one of our Drill Instructors told us, “For those of you going to the fleet, you might think that we’ve f*cked with you, but just wait. You ain’t seen nothing yet”. He was right. Semper Fi

[@stevefowler2112]

@@ekimp252 You will get a kick out of this from '75...the night before graduation our DI's call school circle and tell us the Battalion CO (3rd Battalion, He had been at Chosin Reservoir and was a mean MF'ing grizzled mountain of a man, even our Sr. DI who was a mean SOB in his own right was scared of him) wants to talk to us. I naively thought we were going to get an old school Rah Rah You Made It talk. Boy was I wrong. The Battalion C.O. starts talking and a couple recruits cough (we had a bad bug sweep through and while it was gone a few recruits still had coughs). He stops talking and then starts again and again somebody coughs. He stops again and says, "the next one of you motherfuckers that cough while I am talking, I will take the entire platoon outside and personally PT you all to death". At that we all gave the death stare to the recruits who had coughed and they managed to not cough again. The CO's speech was short and abrupt. WITH disdain in his voice, He said "you are all now only basically trained Marines, you aren't real Marines. You won't be real Marines until you sneak up behind the enemy, grab his head with one hand and slit his throat with the other hand and feel his warm red blood rundown your arm". That was our graduation speech.

[@toddbrown3606]

Same when I was in the Air Force, 3 of us from the same place in California at the same time. We had been hunting together for several years.

[@shootingmab63]

Not a veteran 😢….but don’t even remember being taught how to shoot as a little boy growing up in NW South Dakota…..we all just knew how

[@chadwedul1787]

Semper Fi

[@bobschenkel7921]

Alvin York never wanted to have his story made into a movie, unless Gary Cooper would play him. After about 20 years, and the upcoming likelihood of the US entering WW2, he finally agreed. Once they met, York and Cooper became fast friends, and remained so until Cooper passed.

[@josephryan9230]

Great story!! Thanks for sharing that!!

[@PhillipFelix-kw3zi]

That is a cool story

[@txgunguy2766]

Audie Murphy wanted Tony Curtis to play him in the movie, but Audie ended up taking the role himself.

[@JoseyWales44s]

York also had approval on who would play his wife. He said he didn't want some Hollywood hussy playing her.

[@albertserrano3707]

Gary Cooper never claimed that Oscar.

[@WBDE]

Gary Cooper did very credible work depicting one of the greatest soldiers of World War I

[@claverhouse1]

One of the greatest American soldiers of WW1. Like all Americans he wasn't there long enough to approach the greatness of those who fought the entire war.

[@oldgysgt]

@@claverhouse1 Yea, the Americans were there for a little over a year, but in that time they made a name for themselves. Check out Belleau Wood, Second Battle of the Marne, Muse-Argones, Château-Thierry. This is not to sat that the British and French just set around from 1914 to 1917, but the American Expeditionary Force did a fine job once America got into the fight. It wasn't their fault the Germans gave it up late in 1918, (or maybe it was their fault). The Allies had a real party planned for Germany in 1919, but it had to be called off because the opposing team was a "no-show". And then the politicians took over and screwed up the Peace Treaty so badly, the whole thing had to be redone starting in 1939.

[@ignacioremis4624]

​@@claverhouse1the close to 100 days of actual combat at the front we Americans lost an average of 1000 a day so take that into account 😮

[@PhillipFelix-kw3zi]

We should call war insane

[@claverhouse1]

@@ignacioremis4624 Total US WW1 war dead, 53402 combat , 63114 non combat, so an average of 534 a day in combat.

[@kaspar_1982]

every boy in my 6th grade class had a .22 or a .410 and we had been shooting and hunting for years. never heard of an accident or a school shooting until modern times. girls could shoot too, but none admitted it. America is surely a perplexing place now.

[@tedshaw4160]

Same here, After school sanctioned actives included range practice at the local armory in a Boston Mass Suburb no less. Don't think that school system does that anymore. Probably erased all evidence that they ever did it.

[@ryanupchurch9683]

A little before my time but at my school you brought your shotgun to school. The principal would keep it in his office and you went bird hunting on the way home. Sometimes the faculty would even join them. Crazy times we are in now.

[@ralphholiman7401]

Same here. We had one fatal accident in my town. A twenty year old duck hunting doing something so stupid I couldn’t believe it when I heard it. He hunk his loaded gun on a tree by a nail and then trapped it by the barrel to take it off the nail. Shot himself in the chest. The older brother of someone I knew and the family attended the same church as us.

[@dennissvitak5475]

Those same kids are buying AR-15's with bump stocks, and using their allowance for extended mags.

[@tedshaw4160]

@@dennissvitak5475 No "Those same kids" are now in their 60's and 70's and already have their self defense needs covered. Their grandchildren have also been properly trained and instructed in the use and respect for firearms. Can't say the same for some of the other feral children in today's culture.

[@rollingthunder277]

Never get tired of watching Gary in this motion picture.

[@danielbrown3461]

If they remake this movie will there be calls for more diversity, equity, and inclusion in the casting?

[@Gonzo6389]

I've seen this movie so many times and I never tire of it....one of the best Army Movies I've ever seen...thank you for the clip.

[@leoperidot482]

Oh come on! There are way better army movies out there, like; AMERICAN NINJA. BASIC. FIRE BIRDS. THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER. GO TELL THE SPARTANS. THE GREEN BERETS. IN THE ARMY NOW. INCHON. MISSING IN ACTION. OPERATION DUMBO DROP. THE PENTAGON WARS. PLATOON LEADER. PRIVATE BENJAMIN. PRIVATE VALENTINE. RENAISSANCE MAN. STRIPES.

[@exthorn5539]

@@leoperidot482 You gotta be joking, The first two movies you cited are terrible war movies and are not real stories. I could keep going down your list…

[@AniwayasSong]

I remember going to our little local theater to watch this with Papa and my three older brothers. As the only daughter (And unyielding Tomboy!), 'They' didn't think I should go, or that 'I' would like this movie (Due to the length and all the many serious topics, then violence at the end). I *ADORED* this movie, have it in my own Library, along with the book about this amazing Man and his Life! Love this scene almost more than any other! Papa taught us all how to shoot as very young children, and I've been enjoying it for over 55 years now. While the 'Platforms' may be new and evolve over time, the basics of shooting remain the same, and if you've Mastered them, the rest is easy in comparison. Thanks for sharing this clip!

[@Manfred-cf9rn]

My Dad taught me how to shoot.. with his.22 Woodsman and Remington 550-1 Rifle. That to him was the best pistol and Rifle in the World! I only have daughters.. and taught them how to shoot from pistols to fully automatic assault weapons( outside the USA). AM 75- now and still have My DAD 's and Will pass them to my grand daughter. I am suremy girls can take care of themselves...like our Mom did when she had to shoot for our defense when we were kids..😮

[@muffs55mercury61]

Tomboy girls are the best.

[@AniwayasSong]

@@muffs55mercury61 Momma certainly didn't share that sentiment! LOL

[@bruanlokisson8615]

It wasn't just his skill at shooting, it was so many great qualities all in one man that made him what he was.

[@leoperidot482]

Yeah, he was dumb and nuts.

[@jeffreyburress2200]

I knew his youngest son, Andrew. He related the sharp shooting they portrayed his father as being was true. Andy said behind their house was a little storage building they stored cow, horse and chicken feed in. Sometimes they would spill some grain and that attracted crows. He said his dad would pick up a .22 rifle and shoot crows out of the air as they flew away. Said he did this several times and never saw him miss. That's something else.....shooting crows as they flew through the air with a .22 rifle. Sadly, Andy passed away last year.

[@tankman7711]

I too knew Andrew Jackson York! He was a friend of mine, Andy was the Park Ranger on his dad's farm. I was privileged ( and Honored) to be invited many times to not only lunch but Dinner at both Andy's house and at his Dad's house ( the house he and his brothers and sisters grew up in). He took me to the spot ,on the mountain above the valley, where " The Sergeant" ( as the older locals called Alvin) prayed to God, asking him what he should do.....and God answered. A very humbling experience that day. Andy was a very nice man!

[@chaddnewman2699]

I grew up in Wayne County, KY, just across the state line. I always heard that the saloon pictured early in the movie was at Bald Rock (I believe there was a package store there in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Went to high school with a few Yorks (distant cousins of the Sergeant, if I recall).

[@muffs55mercury61]

Thanks for that tidbit.

[@Bumper776]

I wasn't aware that Andrew had passed. I met him when I visited Pall Mall Tennessee in about 2008 and he showed me around. Such a nice fellow.

[@wadeunderhile7977]

​@@tankman7711I met Andy on a visit to Tennessee

[@rogercornett7379]

Growing up in Kentucky, if you couldn’t shoot, you didn’t eat. I expect it was the same in Tennessee.

[@dannygjk]

Most likely true because no one was passing out fishes and loaves.

[@warrenpuckett4203]

@@dannygjk Or Bridge Cards. Breakfast was in the trees eating hickory nuts. That is what a .22 short is for.

[@dannygjk]

@@warrenpuckett4203 cheap for hunting with too.

[@rogercornett7379]

@@warrenpuckett4203 Squirrel and dumplings was one of my favorite meals!

[@ralfie8801]

It was like that in Minnesota too. I got my great grandpa’s 1908 savage pump .22 from my cousin a few years back, ( he got the 12 gauge) it will fire .22 LR but it had been shot out with shorts. I was kinda disappointed until a hunting buddy took a look at it and asked if he could keep for a while. He worked part time in a gun shop that did gunsmith work too. They reamed the octagonal barrel out and put a liner in. It’s shoots as good as it probably ever did now and I’m glad to have that part of our family history in my possession.

[@timheavrin2253]

Sounds like conscientious objectors took a lot of gup until Alvin York in WW1 and then Desmond Doss in WW2 came along and proved not all of them are cowards. RIP to both heroes and Medal of Honor recipients.

[@JoseyWales44s]

The actor Lew Ayres was also a conscientious objector. Like Doss, he became a medic and braved the battlefield without a weapon.

[@MarkAlken-zt7ib]

@timheavrin2253 Think you miss understood what a contentious objector represents, but not all I’m sure. They are not so called cowards when they object to spilling the blood of another human being. Life is precious to them as Desmond Daws has proven. Before concluding what another man objects to you should understand what your adverse to. Many people today label people pacifists who are non resistant. They are not the same meaning and is do to laziness and refusal to to research the meanings of such words that you allow your mouth to represent your character. Study, it’s good for enlightenment.

[@JoseyWales44s]

@@MarkAlken-zt7ib I believe the point the OP was making was that conscientious objectors who risk their lives prove they are not simply pretending in order to avoid service. Certainly, you must know that some cowards will falsely claim to be conscientious objectors in order to avoid danger.

[@Tank50us]

@@JoseyWales44s COs in general detest the idea of taking lives, and when it's possible, they'll avoid doing so. That being said, the vast majority of them are still going to brave hell itself to pull someone out of danger, and if pushed, will do what's necessary to _protect_ life. For example, if you have a medic in WW2 who's a CO, and an enemy soldier is running up on him, and the man he's trying to save, to bayonet them both, yes, that CO will grab the weapon laying next to him and shoot the guy trying to stab them both.... and if that guy somehow survived getting hit, the CO will likely shrug, and start treating _his_ wounds so he'll be taken as a POW. They know the difference between killing in cold blood, and killing to protect someone else. Just some (like Doss) take a bit more to get to that stage where they'll use violence to protect. Fun fact: The majority of Medics that earned themselves the MOH... were COs.

[@caseyhannink8052]

Alvin york initially claimed conscientious objector status, and was asked if he'd attend basic training while his case was reviewed. He agreed and after training, was granted furlow to go home for a couple of days. While home, his minister spoke to him about why he was claiming conscientious objector. York explained that "God calls man to love his fellow man, and that killing his wrong." His minister replied with biblical passages of God calling his people to fight and defeat those who threaten them. This conversation led york to believe that God was calling him to war. After his return to base, he attended his hearing about his objection, in which he tore up his objection. Long story short when Alvin York was shipped to France he was no longer a Conscientious objector.

[@aaaaaaaaaaaa808]

This is better film than most Hollywood made past decade or more.

[@Marveryn]

these film were made in the period when they wanted the hero to be a hero. Modern hollywood want to show all the flaws and in some cases embellish every lie or rumor. i think it was around the 70's that we lost the cookie cutter hero for more "realism"

[@ancienttraveler5491]

Hollywood's gone.

[@JScottCee]

​@@ancienttraveler5491 Good riddance.

[@Mister_Pedantic]

@@Marveryn Starting in 1934, Hollywood movies were produced within the confines of the "Production Code". There were many rules but in short, the Code mandated that every movie be family-friendly and insofar as was possible, teach a morality lesson. Movies made overseas were forced to make cuts so they could be shown in the US. The abandonment of the Code began in 1953 with The Wild One and many movie theaters refused to show it. Why? Because at the end, Johnny (played by Marlon Brando), rides off on his motorcycle, unpunished.

[@TomVanPelt-j8o]

Any decade. It’s a classic.

[@John-hb5jm]

The Great Escape and Sgt. York my favorite military movies. Semper Fi.

[@JoseyWales44s]

Give "Sahara", with Humphrey Bogart a watch, if you haven't already.

[@eltonyancey6426]

@@JoseyWales44s Another good one.

[@billfarley9167]

From Canada: In the real great escape there were no Americans whatsoever. More Hollywood BS. Sorry Steve McQueen. The main designer of those tunnels was a Canadian mining engineer, Wally Flood.

[@Thoridin58]

@@JoseyWales44s Definitely 3 great movies. Remember watching "Sahara" as a boy back in the 60's.

[@whps60]

Contrary to what the movie (that I also loved and saw three times) showed, not a single USAAF officer actually took part in the real Great Escape. One born American, Johnnie Dodge, did take part in the escape but he had become a British citizen.

[@francoisevassy6614]

A great movie… Gary Cooper got his first Oscar. I wouldn’t have liked being in the jury having to choose between him and Cary Grant in Penny Serenade. How many actors of this period deserved Oscar and never got it because all the actors were so good ? Greetings from France 🇫🇷

[@Mister_Pedantic]

Oscars are not awarded by a "jury". Every member of the Academy has a vote.

[@francoisevassy6614]

@@Mister_Pedantic As far as a bunch votes, in French they are called « jurés »… how should I call them in English ?

[@Mister_Pedantic]

@@francoisevassy6614 It is not the same thing. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts And Sciences is not a court of law.

[@francoisevassy6614]

@@Mister_Pedantic Are you unable to understand that the word jury is used for other purpose than justice ? In France, the awards for cinema in Cannes are discussed by a jury.

[@andyharman3022]

Grant never won a competitive Oscar because he mostly did comedies, and comedies typically aren't vehicles for Oscars. Penny Serenade is a pretty down movie for Grant. I really prefer him in comedies. We need more laughs in this world.

[@mikerobertson4041]

I graduated high school in 1976. It was a very common sight to pull into the parking lot on a school day morning, and see pickup trucks with a gun rack in the back window, holding some guys favorite hunting rifle or shotgun. But what about school shootings? You could count them on less than one finger. There were none. Guns are not the problem in our society, people are.

[@eboracum2012]

I'm 60. It wasn't too terribly long ago that when I was in school, even in my day, men and boys drove trucks with long-guns hanging in the back window. There were shootings off the various high school, college and university, campuses, however I just don't recall anyone ever bringing a 'gat' to a school and using it. I read the newspaper voraciously but alas, there was no internet.

[@Lazmanarus]

Were any of those back window rifles fast action sem-auto AR-15 style rifles with a 20-30 round magazine it could empty in seconds with a bump stock? Or were they bolt or lever action or single shot hunting rifles?

[@linguinatorschwartz9309]

@ Lazmanarus -- What is the relevance of your question ? The existence of the M-16 or AR-15 did not cause school shootings to start happening. Lousy parents did. Parents who are not involved in their kid's lives and show them no affection. Children who receive attention and affection and hugs and corporal punishment and more love do NOT commit school shootings. The existence of gun styles, old fashioned or newfangled, is irrelevant.

[@Lazmanarus]

@@linguinatorschwartz9309 M16 & AR15 style rifles can kill more in a shorter length of time than those "back-window" rifles. With a single shot or bolt action rifle, it takes a longer time to load the next round & you stand a good chance of losing your sight-line. With a "bump-stock" you effectively turn your semi-auto weapon to a full-auto machine gun, thereby taking even less time to empty your magazine into your victims. Have you seen the shockwave that develops in the human body when just one 5.56x45mm bullet traverses it at high speed? It doesn't just make a nice neat hole, it severely disrupts the internal organs for several inches around the trajectory. What do you think 4 or 5 bullets would do?

[@behood8241]

And it's still not the gun's fault.

[@mgsacto]

One of my favorite movies of all time .. especially like the scene where it shows him coming into Crossville Tennessee ... that was the town my Dad grew up in ....... Pretty special

[@theduke7539]

York originally enlisted as a conscientious objector on religious grounds, but after confering with a priest and his faith, York request transfer to a combat unit. York got lots of guff from his fellow troopers until he got to france. Man changed a lot of minds when everyone realized just how much York valued life, friend or foe, as well as how many enemies he was willing to kill to bring everyone one of his comrades home.

[@slaakattak]

Problem was we fought the wrong enemy.

[@theduke7539]

@slaakattak oh please, enlighten me who you think we should have fought.

[@slaakattak]

@@theduke7539 Britain and France.

[@theduke7539]

@@slaakattak And why is that. Why would we have sided against britain and france in the first world war

[@robertmccoy1618]

I remember watching this movie for the first time on a Saturday morning/afternoon when I was a kid in the 80's, loved it! I was a war buff, a Christian, and pretty naive with the world, kinda always envisioned myself as a Sergeant York... Instantly became one of my favorite black and white movies, right up there with It's A Wonderful Life!

[@Kennethvitatoe-jc5pv]

My dad was from TN ,he had me with a gun when I was 8 years old ,I was USAF ,so on the target range with a M16 I was shooting like in my back yard LOL ,73 out of 75 !

[@BilboBlankenship]

Y'all got to remember that this was in 1917, Alvin York loved the army he said,I got my own bed, three meals every day! Not to mention toilet paper and New clothes!

[@edwardpate6128]

When I went into the US Navy in 1980 I had guys I went through boot camp with who just loved it as they had all the food they could eat and brand new clothing. Something they had never had growing up.

[@robertlucky781]

I felt the same way about the Navy when I served (1983 - 2003).

[@brandtbollers3183]

And Leather Shoes and Wool socks.

[@randyboisa6367]

Anyone who uses the term "y'all" should automaticly be sentanced to 30 days in jail.

[@eltonyancey6426]

@@randyboisa6367 Scrooge. Y'all have a nice evening.

[@raymorris2910]

one of the greatest movies of all time about one of the greatest soldiers of all time.

[@richardwoodell5772]

In later years, Gary Cooper said that Sergeant York was one of his favorite characters!

[@walterbriggs272]

York lived around the holler, from grand daddy and the family. Dad says he would come to dinner 🍲 nice in a while, tell stories and was bigger than life to him.

[@patpatpat999]

When I went a shooting at USAF basic in 76, the instructor looked at my target and asked “What the hell’s your Problem?” As I has a lot less holes in the target vs how many rounds I shot. Meanwhile he praised the guy Next to. I think he had more holes in his target than rounds fired. I think you get the idea.

[@seamusoreilly804]

That's funny. I saw the same thing happen in PD Academy in 1987... except it was on the handgun range. The person had never fired a pistol in her life - but she got straightened out and actually shot very well by the end of the quals.

[@anthonyfoutch3152]

in 72 at lackland i hit my target 132 times out of 100.

[@Bladerunner4924764]

I was in Lackland in '82 and one of the recruits in my flight did the same thing.

[@tonyv8925]

@@Bladerunner4924764 Lackland '70, 3704 Sqdn. Shot a perfect score, a baseball size cluster in the middle of target. Didn't get the sharpshooter's ribbon because they couldn't account for one bullet hole, they were all clustered together. Been shooting rifles since I was five, raised by soldiers in a military family.

[@SpringfieldGuy]

Same with me in 1969 at Lackland.

[@johngaither9263]

Yorks unit was actually issued the 1917 Enfield rifle made by Remington rather than the 1903 Springfield as depicted in the movie. It's said York recognized the Springfield as the more accurate of the two and some how acquired one. Both were 30-06 caliber and used the same ammunition. More Enfield's were issued to American soldiers than were Springfields because Remington had been building the gun for English service except in .303 British caliber before the US entered the war. Changing calibers was a simple manufacturing step.

[@terencejay8845]

I earned my marksman cert with a 1954 Lee Enfield .303 in 1972, UK. That thing was silky.

[@robertslusser6753]

I've not had a lot of experience with either rifle but I always thought that the 1903 Springfield was a better weapon than the 1917 Enfield, at least as an infantry rifle. The Springfield was a more streamlined design that shouldered easier than the somewhat heavy Enfield.

[@dannygjk]

A .303 was what my dad used for hunting. When I asked him how powerful it was he said it could go though three men.

[@wbertie2604]

York also said he used the M1917 in his famous engagement. With a longer, heavier barrel and longer sight bass, the M1917 was considered to be very accurate. However, the style of sights was rather different to those dominant in US use on other guns.

[@artemusp.folgelmeyer4821]

The Enfield has better sights as the sight radius was much longer (the barrel is 26" and the sight is closer to the shooter's eye, the Springfield is 24" and the sight is forward on the receiver ring). Both rifles were equally accurate in standard issue condition, but the sights made a difference. I have both. The Enfield cocked on closing and the Springfield cocked on opening.

[@riosomar7826]

I watched this movie many many times! Two of my favorites actors Gary Cooper and James Stewart.

[@bertroost1675]

I saw this movie on TV one weekend afternoon in the late 70's as a kid and it impressed me very much.

[@jasonwebb1758]

Alvin York was an uncle of mine from way back. Proud to be related. Great movie too. We still have a book of York Family Poetry passed down.

[@KJOSCOT]

How precious that is! Awesome to be linked to such an American icon.

[@TucoJames]

My grandad was 15 y/o when he joined military during WW1 as per my mother.

[@muffs55mercury61]

I've loved this movie since I first saw it as a kid in 1963-64 (the real Alvin York was still alive then) It taught me about just one of the heroes of war. They were role models to me defending our country. As of July 2024 there is at least one cast member still living. Actress June Lockhart now 99 played York's younger sister in the film.

[@danalawton2986]

As a kid I loved the old movies... and especially Gary Cooper. My favories are Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Meet John Doe, Ball of Fire, The Fountainhead, High Noon, and Friendly Persuasion.

[@alanhelton]

Alvin York… that’s a soldier’s soldier right there.

[@leoperidot482]

Trump doesn't think so.

[@Tank50us]

@@leoperidot482 You do realize that that "Suckers and losers" was a lie, right? None of the other officers, of which there were several, heard him say anything of the sort, especially around the time the one officer (that hated Trump to begin with) claimed he said it.

[@leoperidot482]

@@Tank50us I believe the generals over Trump, the draft dodger felon rapist traitor. It's sad you're so brainwashed. Apparently you don't know what it means to have honor and integrity.

[@darkpal8951]

Still my favorite movie. Watch it all the time, never gets old to me. Made me a Gary Cooper fan for life, and any movie he is in will get a viewing from me.

[@charlesstein2880]

Even after 2 strokes, my 74 y/o grandfather could hit a spent shotgun shell, on a stick, so far away you could barely see it. My father was declared a marksman in the army, he did the same. I was 11 y/o at the time. I've been shooting with the same rifle since I was 8 y/o but never at such a small target. My first shot hit the stick, not the shotgun shell. My father adjusted the site wedge on the rifle. My second shot hit the brass of the shell, still too low on the target. One more site adjustment and my third shot was true, on target. After I grew up, I had to adjust the site once more backwards to cleanly hit the mark. Like my father, I earned that same rifle on my 12th birthday. That was 45 years ago. The rifle is still on target too.

[@leslieyarbrough3890]

Greatest movie ever made! About One of the Greatest Hero's in America!

[@Jleed989]

I like these Sergeant’s . It’s teaching. Not all yelling

[@Jay-z5w6g]

FYI, they're not really "sergeant's" (sic). It's a movie, and they're actors just reading lines that someone else wrote for them in the way that the director wanted them to do it.

[@rodshoaf]

This is a movie not real life... Drill instructors during a time of war don't have time to be nice like in this movie.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

this is a really terrific Howard Hawks film. The battle scenes are wonderful.

[@josephvitielo1693]

The best director in the Golden Age

[@gerardhogan3]

Greetings from Australia. Thisvis when they made real movies aboutvreal men. Bloody love the accuracy of uniforms. Good ole USA. Great stuff. However....lest we neverforget.... those brave lads who fell.

[@mikegreene3048]

Great movie! I've seen it at least 20 times.

[@michaelblaes9847]

My #2 favorite. I've seen it more than 20 times and prefer the black and white version. The color is pretty good, but it loses something. Not sure what. The church scene stands out in the black and white version and in the color it is wrong. Just my thoughts.

[@Snaproll47518]

I went through Marine Corps boot camp in Jan ‘68. We had M-14s and learned how to shoot the right way, the Marine Corps way.

[@1GUNSQUIRREL]

I was at mcrd nov1 68 to Jan 6 semper Fi brother

[@hastings6671]

You guys serve in Nam?

[@richludwig3563]

Served in Vietnam 65-67 1st Cav M-14s had a wooden stock would warp in the wet climate the first m-16s would jam easy, had to keep them oiled

[@hastings6671]

Incredible. God bless you! Much respect from the UK 🙏🏻

[@classicgunstoday1972]

My dad did too in 1964-67

[@johnstucko2740]

Sgt. York and Saving Pvt. Ryan are my favorite war movies.

[@NeoMorphUK]

I wasn’t able to shoot until I joined the army. During basic training the instructor had this con where all the recruits and 3 instructors dropped money into a pot and the soldier who got the highest score won. The con was the 3 instructors were next to each other and the two outer instructors would shoot at the target in the middle. Three instructors all firing at a single target…. Can’t lose and then the middle guy shares the money with the other two. Only I must have been on good form that day… I beat the score of 3 instructors firing at a single target. What is crazier is that I’m short sighted and have to wear specs. I found out years later that the reason I could hold the rifle perfectly still was due to a disability that means my joints are too loose in the sockets so I had to build up extra muscle to hold them together. Was why I could pump out 100 push ups but struggled to do 2 pull ups (push ups pushed the joint together while pull ups was causing partial dislocations). I still wish I hadn’t won the competition though… those instructors made my life hell for the rest of basic training.

[@bobsbarnworkshop]

One of my favorite classic movies!!!! Gary Cooper tells the true story of Alvin York!

[@ynneb50]

This movie is one of favorites.

[@Ruth-uj1dm]

I fired a gun for the first time on my honeymoon. When I was shooting I asked my husband what the pinging noise was. He looked at me and said it was the bullet hitting the target. I looked at him and said Oh. Funny thing he never took me shooting again.

[@nado9159]

My dad said at the firing range in the marine corp the guy next to him accidentally shot my dads target and hit a bullseye, so he gave my dad a panicked look. And my dad said he shot a bullseye on the other guys target for him before anyone noticed.

[@johndenugent4185]

Heh-heh (from a former Marine).... No one wants the wrath of a worked-up DI. ;-)

[@nado9159]

@@johndenugent4185 Dad was a heavy equipment mechanic in the late 80s. Luckily he saw no combat but he has plenty of entertaining stories.

[@johndoran3274]

My favorite part of this movie was when they sent York home to come to grips with God and Country. They treated him like a man in charge of his own destiny and he figured it out. I carried that with me my whole life.

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

This is a pretty good presentation on how the target system worked. The one thing you would not have - is the Primary Drill Instructor teaching Marksmanship - and - doing it to one person at a time while everyone else was doing nothing. That's Hollywood. We had PMI's or Primary Marksmanship Instructors that tried to teach us to shoot. My problem - was that I already knew how to shoot - I just needed practice. But - my first PMI had all these tiny little things he wanted me to do - so I had to learn HIS way of shooting. Then I got another PMI - and he had me trying to shoot HIS way with all these tiny little things that were different than what I did and what the first PMI told me to do. Then I got a 3rd PMI - but he didn't check what I was doing. He'd tell me to do things - but I was able to ignore him and go back to doing what I had been doing in the first place. I don't know if I ever would have qualified if he'd been paying more attention. As it was - I only shot Sharp Shooter. We were supposed to qualify every year - but - I never did again. I was in the hospital for a sinus operation when they had the guys go to a different base that had a rifle range. It rained the whole time and the guys couldn't even see the targets - so they all lost their qualifications but I got to keep mine. I shot Expert with the .45 cal M-1911A1 pistol though. Our base had a pistol range so we shot there and the weather was fine. One thing about those ranges - was there was a little dip in the ground where everyone lay for each firing position - and when it rained those were filled with water ... It wasn't very deep - but it was there - and you had to lay in it. We had one guy get kicked out of the Marines because he couldn't shoot. He was pathologically afraid of the weapon when it fired. Had no problem drilling with the weapon - just shooting it. When it fired and made a loud noise as it kicked him in the shoulder - he would drop the weapon he was so afraid of it. Drill Instructors lay down in the dirt with him trying to coax him through it - but he simply couldn't control himself. He was terrified of the weapon when it fired. So - they kicked him out. We had two other guys get kicked out. One of them could sign his name ... the other couldn't even do that - and had to Make His Mark. The way that worked - was he would make an X on the paper and then the person who witnessed him making the X would sign it. Drill Instructors read their mail to them. They kept them for a while but finally gave up on them and kicked them out. This was in 1970 and they had draftees - so - it's not like the Marines were trying to get rid of people. They just couldn't use people who couldn't read and couldn't shoot. .

[@davidbeckenbaugh9598]

My daughter came home from HS one day, Sat mom and me in front of her and said she had something very important to tell us, and she did not want us mad at her. I said OK (what was I supposed to say?). She told us that we had saved all our lives to send her to college, but she wanted us to spend that money on ourselves. She said that she had joined the marine corps that day, and would report a month after she graduated. Momma wrapped her arms around me and told me to be careful about my head exploding as it swelled up so much. I told Lind not to worry about making us proud, we were already as proud as we could be. This little 5'4" girl took a lot of duff in boot camp, but was in the tops in everything they were teaching her. She could run, lift weight, tops in first aid, and all the whacky stuff they taught her. Then she had her first chance to shoot. Put the first shot in the second ring, and that was the worst she ever did. Her next five neatly centered. Then she had a little challenge to give. She got a round for each of the targets on the field... and bulled all of them from a single position on the line. She never went to battle. They trained her what she wanted to learn, and then made her an instructor on the rifle range. She's finished her hitch, now, and is in college on the Veteran's program. Seems she wants to be a doctor. Seems to me, she going to be a doctor. Sgt York would have been so proud.... Between Sgt York, and Audie Murphy, I had pretty good heroes as I grew up. My daughter has had the same heroes. It shows.

[@wdwtx2.0]

One of my favorites.

[@sonnymaupin9267]

This was my grandfather's favorite movie. He fought in WW1 and said it was no exageration, everyone knew who York was. He was raised just across the Tennessee border in SE Ky so had a very similar childhood environment

[@raymorris2910]

kinda a funny when I just joined the Army in 1978. I only qualified as a marksman. I was not dropping the 25 meter and 50 meter targets. But, I was dropping all the others out to 300 meters. When I saw the targets up close I noticed the centers of the 25 and 50 were gone. My rounds were going through the center without touching the plastic of the target. from then on I would only aim for the side of the target and always qualified as expert. I had competed for 4 years in HS ROTC on the rifle team. Small bore .22. I knew I could shoot.

[@irksome-yh9fd]

A great read is Alvin York’s autobiography titled Sergeant York and the great war. The writing style is his own and the spelling is not standard spelling more phonetic. But it is an absolute fun read, especially if done out loud. I read it to my children around the dinner table And many times had a hard time keeping a straight face as I read it because there were so many funny sections to his life.

[@BruceBailey-b7x]

I was in military school in 9th grade. We trained with the M-1. @2:00, when they start pulling them out of the grease, it took me back. When I was 40, a friend who owned one, handed it to me. My hands started going through the manual of arms without me even thinking about it, though I hadn't done them in several decades. It surprised me that the muscle memory was still there.

[@Terry-hm4bs]

It's a shame they don't make good wholesome movies like that anymore!!👍👍

[@jeffreyrichard2575]

Shotgun Rifle and a 4 wheel drive and a country boy can survive. The best soldiers come from the rural south.

[@bobyjones3905]

They also said country boys made the best fighter pilots during WW2 especially shooting machine guns. They knew how to lead a target

[@garbo8962]

We had the biggest hillbilly in Fort Dix. They made him practice marching every weekend and still could not keep in step. He was the best shot in the entire battalion. He used to run the weekly mile run in his bare feet. Told us his family as so poor they would not have any food to eat most days unless him & a brother shoot an animal or caught some fish.

[@Potmesil04]

Such an incredible movie.

[@YeOldeTowneCryer]

My dad was drafted for WWII. There was a guy in his outfit from Kentucky. First time they went to the rifle range he was hitting bulleyes. Sergeant congratulated him asked what he thought of the rifle He said something on the order of, "This here rifle is real easy to shoot, it's got sights. The guy learned to shoot a rifle with no sights.

[@herbsmith5764]

What a great movie! Gary Coper was a spectacular actor!

[@buzztp5119]

Been to Pall Mall to his home place. It's a great national park to visit.

[@danhurst9048]

What an movie...

[@bobcarty9762]

Very similar to my first day on the range. I asked the instructor for a brass deflector because I shoot left shouldered. He blew off my question and said not to worry he would have me shooting as good as the guys beside me. I looked left and right at two city Jethroes and said if thats the best I have to look forward to maybe you should send me back home. He got all smarmy and said why font you go ahead and qualify now since you know all about deflectors soldier! Sighted in on two. Then 38 straight bullseyes. Got a six hour beer pass in basic!

[@paristo]

I have a little better one. First time on the army range, zeroed with one shot and then did standard 12 shots (3 standing, 3, kneeled, 3 front stand and 3 on prone), and got 24 bullseyes. My friend on my left shot on my target by accident. We were both disqualified because you couldn't tell which one was hit in where. So we shot a second round while others were waiting, and this time it was 120 points on me and 119 points on him. We kept it up through bootcamp and he decided to go sniper school, but I went to officer school. I still partially regret that decision as I really enjoyed the one week sniper course training, but it was so short periood really.

[@SteinerHaus]

I remember seeing the movie 60-50 years ago. I was impressed then. Learned to shoot a Springfield 1903 as a kid. As I remember that rifle was "liberated" from the McDonald Co American Legion Post. Pappy and I customized it with a new stock in the early 1960. I learned how to checker a stock with Pappy's supervision. And that was in the early 1960s. Since then I've checkered several other stocks. But that Springfield was special to me. It was milled for the Pederson adapter. You can look that up. The rifle as I recall got traded for a Husqvarna M900 in .270 Winchester that has not been fired since 1968.

[@em1osmurf]

ranch in kansas. "you fired a rifle before, recruit?" "yes sir, duck hunting, killing coyotes and bobcats". did a career as electrician. go figure. York and Murphy are heroes america may never see again.

[@jayhays2076]

My son didn't get to shoot very often living with his mom, but every summer we'd shoot a bit. From a Red Ryder BB gun to pellet rifle to .22 lr to .30-30 & 7.62x39. He was top shot in his class at boot camp & gave me the credit, but we country boys just grow up that way, still. Now my youngest is planning on enlisting next year. At least he's got one skill pretty much covered.

[@zaphodbeeblebrox2083]

I love this movie. The acting style is underrated by today’s standards, but the story is excellent.

[@oldgysgt]

According to the serial numbers called out, the '03s being issued would have been made in 1906.

[@originaldcjensen]

Makes sense, they would use what older ones they got first. Edit: York's real rifle was a 1917 Enfield.

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

Such great acting & writing then, I Loved it and still Love Classic movies from the 1930s-60s 👍📺

[@offdeadeye88]

Excellent film, and a early pattern 1903 with the different rear sight

[@CoolestDude38NC]

No York is issued the 1917 Enfield. Not a 1903 Springfield.

[@artemusp.folgelmeyer4821]

@@CoolestDude38NC There is some speculation that he traded for the Springfield in France. York has the standard sight in one scene at the range and the earlier sight later.

[@CoolestDude38NC]

​@@artemusp.folgelmeyer4821I always read York got issued the 1917 Enfield like most Americans got in WW1. Whether York got his hands on a 1903 Springfield, I would not be surprised. Both rifles were good bolt action rifles for their time period. Iron sight rifles where you have to focus on the front sight post hard to shoot good groups.

[@artemusp.folgelmeyer4821]

@@CoolestDude38NC I preface this reply with the information that I own several full military rifles. These include a Lee Enfield SMLE, M39 Mosin Nagant (Finland not Russia), 1873 Springfield, 1917 Enfield, 1903 Springfield, and a M1 Garand. All have iron sights with the 1917 and M1 with aperature rear sights. The aperature if far superior for accuracy than any leaf rear sight as it is closer to the shooter's eye and the aperature allows a more precise sight picture. Some may argue that obtaining that sight picture in combat is slower, but I will also point out that the British adopted a peep/aperature rear sight for the Lee Enfield upgrade from the No. 1 MkIII* during WWII. My old eyes (75) still allow 4 MOA with aperature sights. Me M39 has the best leaf sight I have yet encountered.

[@JoseyWales44s]

@@CoolestDude38NC He was issued a 1903 Springfield in the film during boot camp, which is what the OP is referring to.

[@vincentshriver5686]

My dad said some of the vest rifle shooter were from the hills of Kentucky, Tennessee, ( Korean vet, Marine), and he wasn't wrong. Top shoot in my platoon came from that area.

[@mjhirish84]

A great American. How many schools today teach kids about this hero?

[@richardwoodell5772]

@@mjhirish84 They are too busy teaching about diversity and inclusiveness to be bothered with that!

[@KandyKane999]

None of them now. But they still did in the rural areas up until the 60's and 70's for sure because there were people still alive that served with him or knew someone who had and lived and worked in the area. After that was Audie Murphy...

[@muchkneaded]

On my first day in Da Nang, we "FNG's" were taken to the shooting range and given an M16 with a 60-round clip (magazine? I still don't know the difference, and I'm okay with that). After we shot at our targets, we counted the holes in it. Mine had 73! I thought, "I must've counted some of these holes twice." One of the guys had a pen in his pocket, so I borrowed it and marked off each hole as I counted it. There WERE 73 holes in my target! Talking about my experience later to the other FNG's, the guy on each side of me said that they didn't want to be considered a marksman, so they both shot at MY target a few times! I liked their rebel attitude. They were my first 2 friends in Vietnam!

[@asmith7876]

60 round magazine? Really? You sticking by that story?

[@muchkneaded]

@@asmith7876 Yep, but only because I still don't know the difference between a "magazine" and a "clip". I just remember there were 60 bullets stacked on top of each other in a container that was shoved up somewhere under the barrel of the rifle. Also, this was in August, 1971, almost 53 years ago, i.e. more than 1/2 a century! Many years of smokin' sinsemilla and ingesting psychedelics (LSD and 'shrooms) during that time "might" have clouded my memory a bit, but I'm a happy guy! 😃

[@asmith7876]

@@muchkneaded Now that I'm shaking out my own cobwebs, I was in the Army in the mid 80's, we had a guy somehow connected a 20 and 30 round magazine together and I swear blazed through all 50 rounds. So maybe that's what it was, 2 30-round mags together! 😂😂😂

[@alfredlee6155]

I always loved this movie. And Alvin York, himself.❤🇺🇸

[@ComboMuster]

Salt of the earth. Quiet, humble, helpful, hard as nails. I will take him over the whole of NYC.

[@glundgren2097]

One of my favorite movies of all time!

[@RichardCook-on3gf]

Gary Cooper is my favorite actor. The films he made with Walter Brennan are the best. Another great film they made was Task Force.

[@johnlynch-kv8mz]

1:22. I myself am from the great shining city on the hill; Boston Massachusetts. I went and lived in Nashville Tennessee. I can share that this kind of conversation is the real deal. I only understood every fourth word ( coming out of their mouths) myself…at first. It is after all , all English, or American as the man said.

[@mrstacyj9496]

Cooper looked comfortable handling that firearm. I wonder if he was a hunter or target shooter?

[@razorshark9320]

This is one of my all time favorite war films. The real Alvin York picked Garry Cooper himself.

[@damiandelapp5490]

My father a Marine during WW2 said they existed, men that were incredible marksmen that came from places of extreme poverty from the depression era hunting to eat,They couldn’t afford to miss, either held back as instructors or trained for sniper duty!

[@dimitriosdaukopulos3941]

There's absolutely nothing compared to the silver screen!!!! I'm darn proud 🦚🦚🦚🦚 I understand,and appreciate it!!!

[@alanwest8655]

I Remember watching this as a boy .. never knew the title .. unreal to see it again ..😢

[@deguello66]

AMAZING the historical accuracy of this. They're actually issued '03 Springfield rifles! NOT the '03-A3 as most WW1 movies mistake them for.

[@Minor1623]

I wish they still made good and wholesome movies like this

[@Pafvesper]

Looking forward in seeing your two new lathes. You will need to build a bigger shop at this rate!😊

[@thefriendlyapostate8290]

Ah, Sgt. York, one of these movies that made us feel so very British...I just love the subtle variation of "God save the King" while his training btl. commander is convincing him to drop conscientious objection. However, it is also a bit unintentionally funny considering that this tune was also the official national anthem of Imperial Germany.

[@GeorgeSemel]

Every time I see that movie, and I seen it quite a few times in my 69 years. First its a fine movie, 1941 was a hard time that was going to get harder. The other thing is gee's to have a crate or two of new in the cosmoline M1903 Springfields would just be so nice, in my old age. I would send one off to Griffin & Howe for them to make a fine sporter of it, just they way they did for Hemingway. And then go to Africa with it. Yeah I get that little tingle ever time I watch this one. One of Coopers best. As for Alvin York, he became a legend in his own time.

[@williamrogers-y2t]

I never touched a rifle before basic, but ended up firing expert, one thing I actually do well naturally.

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

War movies and barracks comedy are just great!

[@TUSK4America]

One of my favorite movies I watch it whenever it’s on.

[@soulsoulsoul634]

Love how the armorer just points the rifles at everyone he gives them to

[@jaydeutscher]

Hey! Show some respect! That’s Alex Baldwin’s grandpappy!

[@Lawrence-lj5jz]

​@@jaydeutscher 😂

[@DRAGNET-pn5vf]

GOD BLESS AMERICA, UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL!🙏🇺🇲❤️💪

[@classicgunstoday1972]

My favorite scene in the movie. I have a M1917 US rifle (which may actually have been what York used in Europe rather than the Springfield 1903). Both rifles are amazing and built for long range accuracy

[@richardstephens5570]

According to York's son Andrew, his father was issued a 1917 Enfield when he arrived in France. But he didn't like the peep sight, so he managed to trade it for a 1903 Springfield.

[@classicgunstoday1972]

@@richardstephens5570 I’ve heard that too. And that may be true. I think the guns were generically refereed to as “the American rifle” (1903) and “the British rifle” (1917) as referenced in York’s diary. I think they trained with 1903s as seen in the movie and were issued 1917s when they got to France. York personally did not like the peep sights of “the British rifle”. I’m not sure how easy it would be for a man to “swap out” an issued rifle even back then. But if York did indeed say that and mean that to his grandson it must be true. We will never know 100% certainty one way or the other because I believe Yorks rifle was stolen as soon as it got off the ship back home. A sailor of soldier told him he’d take care of his gear and York never saw the rifle again.

[@Tony-f4e4l]

One of my favorite movies!

[@slickwilly7703]

My best friend growing up in Lawrenceburg, TN back in the late 60's and early 70's was John Pile. His family was originally from Pall Mall, TN. The pastor in this movie was Pastor Pile from Pall Mall.

[@glennbrymer4065]

In August of 1969 at Ft. Bliss in El Paso Texas I was completeing BCT in the U.S.Army. Our training battalion went to record firing to qualify for our marksman medals. I got 99 out of 100 targets. My drill sargent gave me another helmet cover and sent me back out to fire for another soldier who could not shoot very well. I did that for 9 other soldiers before the Lt. running our firing lane wised up. My rifle barrel was pretty hot by that point. He looked at my name tag and said No more shooting for you Brymer! I dont want to see you come through my line again! Later, when they tallied up the scores, I was the top scoring shooter in the Battalion! Plus all the men I had shot for got thier Expert medals too. I was amazed. I got my first strip awarded to me and a nice plaque plus my Expert marksman medal. I was 17 years old. Id never felt prouder standing up there reciving the awards. I learned to shoot a small pump action 22. rifle at age 5, my father & grandfather taught me how to aim and fire. I could put 50, 22. slugs through the end of a Vienna sausage can at 50 feet. When they issued me my M-14 and I shot it the 1st time, it was just magic. I could not miss with that rifle. Ive always remembered this movie and this scene. It was a great honor to me to serve in the U.S.Army. Salutes to all who served.

[@TerryCox-ur8sw]

Similar story. Was at Fort Bliss in 1967. Owned my first 22 rifle at age 9. My grandfather taught me to hit baby food glass jars in the air. He would toss them and I would shoot them out of the air. When handed the M14, I like the solder above, could not miss. Fired expert with ease. Sargent York's cousin lived next door in east Tennessee. But I never took the time to discuss with her Sargent York. My regrets.

[@TerryCox-ur8sw]

And still own the Remington 22 single shot rifle.

[@jimbarin]

I worked with a UK man in the Middle East, he was few years older than me and had done his National Service. Turned out he was a very good shot and had sniper training - he said the downside was he had to shoot off the expired ammunition, sometimes this was no big deal, other times there were hundreds of rounds - every single one had to be counted out, checked, double checked, fired, the casings counted in and checked and checked again - taking up hours and hours. The army loves paperwork especially when it comes to live ammunition.