I3203

Distinguished Soldiers

Sergeant Alvin Cullum York

Collins Cover Announcement 

Distinguished Soldiers

Alvin C. York

Alvin York is considered the greatest American hero of World War I. On October 8, 1918 in the Argonne Forest region of France, York led a small patrol against a well fortified and reinforced German machine gun emplacement. During their attack, Alvin York fired his rifle 17 times. The marksmanship he had perfected as a youth iii the woods of his native Tennessee paid dividends, for 17 of the enemy lay dead. With his rifle now out of ammunition, he eliminated eight more German soldiers with his pistol. The shooting stopped when suddenly and unexpectedly the remaining large force of 132 enemy troops

surrendered to the tenacious American sergeant.

In 1919, Alvin Cullum York returned home to a hero's welcome. He was honored with a ticker tape parade in New York City. His life and war record were portrayed in the 1941 movie Sergeant York with Gary Cooper starring in the title role. But the earnest and modest young man from Pall Mall, Tennessee would throughout his life downplay the heroic and almost super-human efforts that won him the Medal of Honor on that distant World War I battlefield.

My hand painted cachet shows a close-up of Sergeant York and a small contingent of soldiers in the Argonne region of France. As with the previous three covers in this set, it is *done in the more traditional watercolor style of washes and free-flowing color. The set of four - Audie Murphy, Omar Bradley, John Hines, and Alvin York - presents a distinct First Day Cover portrayal of these heroic American soldiers. The hand painted cachets are done with a slightly different painting technique, and I think you'll enjoy owning them. Military themes are always popular within the hobby, and I am pleased to announce the completion of my effort to honor these four brave men with this final FDC featuring World War I hero extraordinary - Alvin C. York. Collins #I3203 - $12.25.