Walking in the Valley A weekly column for those who live and walk in Silicon Valley by Barbara Dahlgren

To Fight or Not to Fight, Is That the Question? Column for the week of April 6-12, 2003

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People ask, “Should we fight this war?” Protest rallies vie to win our emotions but some of their methods seem to lack an element of dignity such as disrupting traffic, defecating, and vomiting on steps of Federal Buildings. Perhaps they are not getting enough media coverage so more drastic measures are called for. It’s almost as if they want to have a warlike mentality as they insist on peace.

On the other hand the Support the Troops rallies for the most part seem to have neat, clean, and tidy gatherings. Maybe that’s why they don’t get media coverage. The intent is to support our troops not to make a statement that war is good. In San Francisco, police were ordered not to wear flags or red bandanas or anything to indicate they were taking sides. Officers must remain non-partisan while on duty. But just between you and me, from a logistical point of view, if you were a police officer, would you be more inclined to favor the group that defecates publicly or leaves things clean and tidy? Duh?

Where do most churches stand on this issue? Surprisingly, churches while not condoning war seem to be supportive of our president, his actions, and our troops. This may seem a little incongruous but those who read the Bible know it is a very realistic book. Many Biblical heroes were warriors. Men like David, Joshua, Samson and so on. The Bible doesn’t indicate we should passively accept evil and goes so far as to say that there is a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:8) But each person must decide when that time is individually and if there is a cause worth dying for.

Such was the case in the life of Alvin C. York. For those who don’t know, he was named the greatest individual soldier in World War 1. It may surprise you to know he was listed as a conscientious objector. In 1887 Alvin was one of 11 children born to a poor Tennessee farm family. Mountain hunting to feed the family made him an expert marksman. He was uneducated as most young people were in those impoverished areas, and a hell-raiser. However, Alvin mended his ways after one of his best friend was killed in a bar brawl. He became a devout member of the Church of Christ in Christian Union, which had a strict moral code. It was one of those “no anything that is fun” groups. You know, no drinking, swimming, dancing, swearing, literature, movies, violence, or war. He was about 30 when he got his draft notice.

To say the least, Alvin’s faith was tested. He sent back a simple reply, “Don’t want to fight.” Since his church was not recognized as a legitimate Christian sect, he soon found himself in Georgia for basic training. He had never been 50 miles from home before. He confused all his instructors because he continually spoke of his objection to war but he was just about the best dog gone recruit around and definitely an expert marksman. Two of his officers were touched by his sincerity and honesty, so they spent many hours in heart felt discussions with him about the conflict, which raged in his mind, religious convictions versus patriotism. It is said that Captain Danforth read some passages from Ezekiel that seemed to satisfy York and take away his doubt about fighting for his country.

So he was off to Germany where he and 16 others were given the duty of taking Decauville Railroad and destroying bunkers of German machine guns. They found themselves behind enemy lines in battle. All the non commissioned officers from that group were killed or wounded so York was sort of in command. Only 9 men remained fighting like crazy. Somehow York captured the German major who thought they were fighting a whole battalion and surrendered. Over 100 Germans marched out to the astonishment of our guys. From York’s autobiography:

The report read, “The part which Corporal York individually played in the attack is difficult to estimate. Practically unassisted he captured 132 Germans, 3 officers, took about 35 machine guns, and killed no less than 25 of the enemy.”

In 1919, after the war York returned home as the “reluctant hero.” Reluctant because when Hollywood and advertising agencies tried to woo him he refused. Still a devoutly religious man, he shunned fame and fortune to go home so he could concentrate on his passion of providing education for poverty stricken kids of Tennessee, an opportunity he never had. Which is a far cry different than when Audie Murphy returned home as the most decorated soldier from World War 11.

To fight or not to fight? Is that the question? It’s definitely the question Alvin York had to ask and answer for himself. If you are faced with that dilemma, only you can decide what to do. But whatever you decide, do it with dignity. Better to be known as a person with dignity that the one who barfed on the steps of the Federal Building and left it for others to clean up.

©April 2003

Be sure to visit this page every week to read the next edition of Walking in the Valley. You can write to the author at bdahlgren@wcgsouthbay.org.