Sergeant York Page #7

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Ain't you got a clean one?

- Clean it, buddy. And keep it clean.

- Sure.

- 2-1-8-1-0-2.

- 2-1-8-1-0-2.

York, Alvin C.

Anything wrong with it?

Well, it sure is a fine rifle gun.

I thought maybe you might have

some conscientious objections to it.

No, sir, I ain't.

Careful you don't kill anybody with it

till we get to France.

- Next man.

- There you are, York.

- 2-1-4-8-0-3.

- 2-1-4-8-0-3.

Thomas, Bert E.

Boy, look at that shine,

is that clean or is that clean?

Look, Sarge, you can eat

right off the trigger.

Not bad.

You call that clean?

- What's the matter with it?

- Look.

- I don't see nothing.

- It's full of grease.

Won't that make the bullet

come out faster?

Clean it.

That's a good job, York.

Did you ever clean a rifle before?

Ain't never cleaned one like that before.

I done clean my own, though.

So you've got a gun of your own,

have you?

- Yes, sir.

- I wouldn't think you'd have one.

Well, the next time get your sling

a little higher on your arm.

Okay.

Pull in your necks, soldiers.

Those rookies are gonna start shooting.

Now, remember, you guys,

you're using real, live ammunition.

A bullet hasn't got any brains.

It'll hit whatever you aim it at.

So don't start murdering each other.

All right, let's go. Ready on number 30.

Ready, number 30.

Not yet, we'll try it first.

Relax, Ross, loosen up. Yeah, that's better.

Take a deep breath.

Blow, let a little of it out.

Hold it.

Remember, keep your sights

on the center of the bull's-eye.

Take up the slack in the trigger gradually.

Don't pull it. Squeeze it slowly.

Just like you were squeezing a lemon.

Ready? Aim.

I can't hold it no more.

All right, Ross, take another one.

Aim.

Fire.

Look, Ross, you had your thumb

sticking straight up in the air.

Just like that.

Oh, yeah. That gives me balance.

Oh, it does? It gives you balance, does it?

- Yeah.

- Here.

Load.

Aim.

- Fire.

- Oh, my eye.

Maybe that will teach you

to keep your thumb down.

That's something

for the rest of you men to remember.

- A miss.

- Miss.

Ready on number 29.

Ready on 29.

Ready, 29.

All right, York. Let's see what you can do.

Aim. Fire.

I ain't much good at this here practicing,

Sergeant.

All right, next time get that sling

a little higher on your arm.

Press your cheek

a little closer to the stock.

Yes, sir.

Make sure that front sight

divides the rear sight in half.

I reckon I know about that, Sergeant.

You reckon you know about that, do you?

We'll see. Here.

Load. Aim.

Fire.

- A miss!

- Miss.

So you know about sighting, do you?

I sure thought I cut plumb center

that time.

You did, huh?

I can't no ways see how I can miss

that whole great big target.

Sharpshooter York requests a re-mark.

Re-mark for 29.

Re-mark, 29.

Oh, I didn't see that one.

- A bull's-eye, 4:00.

- Bull's-eye.

I can't figure out how I got

way down there on the edge.

Well, I reckon I can do a little better

when I get used to this here rifle gun.

Here's five chances to do better.

Fire when ready.

Hey, what are you wetting

that front sight for?

Why, it kind of cuts down the haze.

I always wet my sights

when I'm fixing to do some shooting.

Okay, do some shooting.

- Bull's-eye, dead center.

- Bull's-eye.

Okay, York. You're on your own.

- Bull's-eye.

- Bull's-eye.

- Bull's-eye.

- Bull's-eye.

- Bull's-eye.

- Bull's-eye.

Hey, look at this.

Right through the marker.

That ain't no rookie, that's Buffalo Bill.

Let's see that target, Sergeant.

Bring 29 to the firing line.

There's the first shot,

and here's the other five here.

I reckon that there gun

shoots a might to the right.

Where did you learn to shoot, York?

Well, I ain't never learnt, Sergeant.

Folks back home used to say

I could shoot a rifle before I was weaned.

But they was exaggerating some.

Now, supposing these here cartridges

is a flock of wild turkeys,

a-flying across the ridge

coming this a-way, see, right at me.

Now, which one of them

would you shoot first?

I'd take a crack at all of 'em

and trust to luck.

Well, you wouldn't have no luck

that way, Pusher.

No? Well, then I'd pick the motorman.

- The what?

- The motorman. The guy out in front.

Well, that ain't right either,

if you wanna get more than one turkey.

Now, which one of them's

got the most meat on him?

Yeah, what's the answer?

Well, now, if you shoot this one here,

the leader,

the rest of 'em will see him drop

and fly off, see?

So, you draw down

on the last turkey here,

and then the next one, see?

Kind of coming from back to front.

Then the rest of 'em won't know

they're being hit.

And, if...

Of course, they might flare off some

when the shooting starts,

but if a fellow's got himself

a repeating rifle,

he's got a good chance

of getting the whole flock.

- Sounds all right.

- Turkeys sure is dumb animals.

Seems you picked up a good bit

down in the hills, Alvin.

Oh, anybody that's done any hunting

knows that.

Alvin C. York!

Report to Major Buxton immediately.

- Yes, sir.

- What have you been up to now?

I don't know.

I've been aiming not to make no trouble.

It's your move.

- Private York reporting, sir.

- Yes, York. At ease.

York, Captain Danforth has just

handed me a report concerning you,

made by your company sergeant.

Yes, sir?

You have a very excellent camp record.

Well, I'm mighty glad to hear that, sir.

You applied for exemption, I believe,

as a conscientious objector.

Yes, sir.

Well, I think we can disregard that.

York, Sergeant Parsons

recommends your promotion

to the rank of corporal with special detail

as instructor in target practice.

Captain Danforth and I heartily approve.

I congratulate you, York.

Well, I'm much obliged to you,

Major Buxton and Captain Danforth.

Well, I'll learn 'em fellows to shoot

the best I can,

like I already done Pusher and Bert.

I mean, Privates Ross and Thomas, sir,

but,

well, I don't want to be no corporal.

- What's that?

- I said I don't want to be no corporal.

- Why not?

- Wait a minute, Captain. Let him talk.

Well, you see, I...

Is it because of your

religious convictions, York?

Yes, sir. That's it.

You see, I believe in the Bible,

and I'm a-believing

that this here life we're living

is something the Lord done give us.

And we got to be a-living it

the best we can.

And I'm figuring that a-killing other folks

ain't no part of what he was intending

for us to be a-doing here.

Well, yes. In a way I agree with you.

York, with your permission, Major?

Certainly, Captain. Sit down, York.

You... You say you believe in the Bible?

Yes, sir.

Well, I do, too.

But do you believe that the Bible means

that a man shouldn't fight

for what he believes to be right?

Well, it done said,

"Blessed are the peacemakers."

Yes, I know, but...

You remember that verse,

I think it's in Luke,

where he says, "He that hath no sword,

let him sell his garment, and buy one"?

He said that to Peter.

But he doesn't stop Peter

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