The York Patrol - by James Carl Nelson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"Exceptional military history worthy of its heroic subject." --Matthew J. Davenport

In the vein of Band of Brothers and American Sniper, a riveting history of Alvin York, the World War I legend who killed two dozen Germans and captured more than 100, detailing York's heroics yet also restoring the unsung heroes of his patrol to their rightful place in history--from renowned World War I historian James Carl Nelson.

October 8, 1918 was a banner day for heroes of the American Expeditionary Force. Thirteen men performed heroic deeds that would earn them Medals of Honor. Of this group, one man emerged as the single greatest American hero of the Great War: Alvin Cullum York. A poor young farmer from Tennessee, Sergeant York was said to have single-handedly killed two dozen Germans and captured another 132 of the enemy plus thirty-five machine guns before noon on that fateful Day of Valor.

York would become an American legend, celebrated in magazines, books, and a blockbuster biopic starring Gary Cooper. The film, Sergeant York, told of a hell-raiser from backwoods Tennessee who had a come-to-Jesus moment, then wrestled with his newfound Christian convictions to become one of the greatest heroes the U.S. Army had ever known. It was a great story--but not the whole story.

In this absorbing history, James Carl Nelson unspools, for the first time, the complete story of Alvin York and the events that occurred in the Argonne Forest on that day. Nelson gives voice, in particular, to the sixteen "others" who fought beside York. Hailing from big cities and small towns across the U.S. as well as several foreign countries, these soldiers included a patrician Connecticut farmer whose lineage could be traced back to the American Revolution, a poor runaway from Massachusetts who joined the Army under a false name, and a Polish immigrant who enlisted in hopes of expediting his citizenship. The York Patrol shines a long overdue spotlight on these men and York, and pays homage to their bravery and sacrifice.

Illustrated with 25 black-and-white images, The York Patrol is a rousing tale of courage, tragedy, and heroism.

Review Quotes

"James Carl Nelson has again combined thorough research with commanding prose to bring a fascinating true story from the Western Front to living color. The York Patrol not only pulls the authentic Alvin York away from the legend surrounding his heroism, it gives long-overdue voice to the sixteen men who fought alongside him on that October morning in the Argonne Forest. This is exceptional military history worthy of its heroic subject." - MATTHEW J. DAVENPORT, author of First Over There: The Attack on Cantigny, America's First Battle of World War I
"Dramatic. ... A stirring account of an important incident and time in American history." - Booklist
"Exhaustively researched. ... A conscientious account." - Wall Street Journal
"An admiring but realistic account of an American hero well suited to any WWI buff." - Kirkus Reviews
"Nelson tells it all. ... His rendering is more complete and more reliable than the 1941 movie. ... Alvin York was a bona fide hero, whose memory is fading fast in this era when heroes are thin on the ground. Nelson's book is a good reminder." - American Spectator
"An outstanding account of York's life and actions. ... A worthwhile read for anyone interested in learning about an unlikely hero from one of the world's most devastating conflicts." - HistoryNet
"James Carl Nelson offers a well-crafted account of the exploit that earned York the Medal of Honor, while also crediting the other men--unjustly forgotten--who also performed deeds of valor alongside him that day. An important and exciting book." - Edward G. Lengel, chief historian, Medal of Honor Museum, and author of Never in Finer Company: The Men of the Great War's Lost Battalion
"Alvin York's story has never been told better. With riveting detail and fast-paced drama, The York Patrol is a must read." - Mitchell Yockelson, author of Forty-Seven Days: How Pershing's Warriors Came of Age to Defeat the German Army in World War I
"Well researched. ... Military history buffs will savor learning the truth behind this WWI legend." - Publishers Weekly