Sergeant York Page #8

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from using his sword.

He said, "Them that lives by the sword

will be a-perishing by the sword."

That were further on.

- Yes, I remember, but...

- No, go ahead, Captain, go ahead.

But according to St. John,

he said, "My kingdom is not of this world.

"If my kingdom were of this world,

then would my servant fight."

Well, that's just the point, Captain.

He done said

his kingdom were not of this world.

And that... That is different.

- Yes, but...

- Just a moment, Captain.

York, have you ever read this?

"History of the United States."

It sure is a lot of writing.

- Daniel Boone?

- Yeah.

You know about him?

Well, everybody down our way

knows about Daniel Boone.

First man into

the Valley of the Three Forks.

Yes, he was quite a man,

one of the greatest.

And that book's full of great men.

York, what do you suppose that

Boone was looking for

when he went out alone

into the wilderness?

Well, I never thought much on it.

Was he looking for new lands?

- Might be.

- Maybe.

Maybe for something more.

Something that a man just can't see

with his eyes or hold in his hands.

Something that some men don't even

know they have until they've lost it.

- Yes, sir.

- To be free.

Now, that's quite a word, freedom.

I think that's what he wanted.

I think that's what sent Boone

into your Tennessee country.

Is that what...

That what this here book's about?

Yep.

That's the story of a whole people's

struggle for freedom

from the very beginning until now.

For we're still struggling.

It's quite a story, York.

How they all got together

and set up a government,

whereby all men were pledged

to defend the rights of each man,

and each man

to defend the rights of all men.

We call it a government of the people,

by the people and for the people.

Why, I never knowed

it was all written down.

- You're a religious man, York.

- Yes, sir.

You want to worship God

in your own way.

Yes, sir.

- You're a farmer?

- Yes, sir.

You want to plow your fields

as you see fit,

and raise your family

according to your own likes?

And that's your heritage and mine,

every American's.

But the cost of that heritage is high.

Sometimes it takes all we have

to preserve it, even our lives.

How you gonna answer that, York?

Well...

You done given me a powerful lot

to be a-thinking about.

Well, take your time.

Well, if I could only get home,

back in 'em there hills, I...

- What would you do?

- Well, I could...

I could figure something out.

I've done a heap of thinking

up yonder there once.

All right, take 10 days' furlough.

You mean I can go home?

And when you get back,

if you still can't see it our way,

I'll recommend your exemption.

- You will?

- Report to me as soon as you get back.

I'll arrange your furlough, York,

starting tomorrow.

- Thank you.

- Good luck.

I sure would like to read this here book.

Go ahead. Take it with you if you want to.

You can borrow it.

Thank you, Major Buxton.

Thank you, Captain Danforth.

Come on, boy.

Want me to be a-setting four places, Ma,

or just three?

Can't say, child.

Ma, ain't Alvin ever gonna eat again?

The Book says

man don't live by bread alone.

Well, what about that there hound dog

he's got with him?

He can't read the Book.

Get the table set.

He's up at the point. Been up there all day.

Want George to go get him, Ma?

Let him be.

Put your trust in the Book, Alvin.

But here's another book, York.

The History of the United States.

Them that lived by the sword,

will be a-perishing by the sword.

The government of all men

to defend the rights of each man.

And each man

to defend the rights of all men.

Remember, the Lord done said,

"Thou shalt not kill."

But the cost of that heritage is high.

Sometimes all we have to preserve it,

even our lives.

- Obey your God.

- Defend your country.

- Your God.

- Your country.

- Your God.

- Your country.

- God.

- Country.

- God.

- Country.

- God.

- Country...

"Render therefore unto Caesar

"the things which were Caesar's,

"and unto God

the things that were God's."

Caesar... The things which were Caesar's.

And unto God, God's.

- Private York reporting, sir.

- Have him come in.

Yes, sir. Go in, Sergeant.

I'm a-bringing your book back, Major.

And I'm a-thanking you.

Well, you're welcome, York.

I done what you told me,

I thought things over.

- Well?

- I'd like to stay in this here army.

I rather hoped that you would, York.

But there's just one thing, sir,

that I ought to tell you.

There's lots of things...

There's lots of things

I ain't figured out yet.

Lots of things still a-going on in my mind.

But it's...

Well, it's just like Pastor Pile done told me.

I reckon I can just be a-trusting in

something that's a heap bigger than I be.

York, as your superior officer, I don't feel

called upon to look into your conscience.

It's enough for me that I trust you.

And I believe that when the time comes,

you'll conduct yourself as a soldier should.

Thank you, sir.

And I'm going to approve your promotion

to the rank of corporal.

Well, I'll sure take care of my men

the best I can, sir.

I know you will, York.

- That's all.

- Thank you, Major.

Aren't you...

Aren't you taking quite a chance, Major?

You mean as to whether he'll fight or not?

No, I don't think so, Captain.

I don't think I'm taking any chances at all.

"Dear Mom,

"am feeling just fine

and have taken in all the sights.

"And Bert took me to a church

called Notre Dame Cathedral.

"It's big enough inside for a fellow

to plant a crop of corn.

"Pusher just come in.

"He's saying our outfit is moving up

to front pretty soon.

"I reckon that's so

'cause we got all our training

"and they ain't brought us here

for no sight-seeing tour..."

"Tour, nohow.

"Gracie wrote in her letter

she was a-worrying.

"Tell her, don't."

I was feared. I'm a-feared for Alvin.

It ain't right for us to be a-feared, Gracie.

Alvin's in good hands.

The Lord takes care of 'em

that's a-believing in Him.

- Any of you blokes got a cigarette?

- Yeah.

- Here you are.

- Thanks.

You know, you Yanks just got here

in the nick of time.

We're running shy of these.

Besides, we can do with some help.

Look out.

It takes a while, but you'll learn

when to flop and when not to.

They say you never hear

the one that's hit you.

That's only half the truth.

No, the whole truth is,

if you hears it, you've got a chance.

Duck.

See what I mean?

- Heinie's got the range good.

- Yeah. A guy can get killed around here.

- Look out.

- Don't be afraid. This one'll pass over.

See?

Takes time, it do.

But you'll get the hang of it.

Duck again.

If that was shrapnel, now,

we wouldn't be flopping at all.

You know, you only flop for...

Okay, Bert. The Express has gone through.

Hey, Bert!

If one's got your name on it,

there's nothing you can do.

So you see, gentlemen,

the grave responsibility rests upon us.

This entire German salient,

holding up the Argonne advance

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