Sergeant York | York Has Target Practice | Warner Classics

Alvin York (Gary Cooper), the simple Tennessee farmer, shows incredible rifle abilities to his commanders.

About Sergeant York (1941):
When Tennessee farmer Alvin York is drafted, he enters the military as a conscientious objector, refusing to use violence against anyone. Although a born leader and patriot, the deeply religious York goes to the front still believing in nonviolence. But when his unit is overwhelmed by Germans, Sergeant York takes up arms to defend his friends. Single-handed, he stops a German offensive and takes 132 prisoners.

[silverhammer]

Alvin York was a true warrior in every sense of the word. He prayed for peace but, when peace did not come, he did what he had to do. One of my all-time favorite movies.

[Bumper]

I went in the Army in 1971 when I was 17 years old, straight off the farm where I had learned to shoot when I was about 8 or 9 years old with an old .22 rifle. My Basic Combat Training was at Ft. Knox Kentucky. The first day at the firing range we were directed to shoot three rounds from our M-16 rifles at a target at 25 meters to see if we could shoot a tight group. My three rounds were so tight that they could be covered by a quarter. The drill sergeant looked at my target and said: "It looks like we have another Alvin York here." That has been 53 years ago, and I still recall that just as clear as if it happened yesterday.

[bobschenkel]

Alvin York never wanted to have his story made into a movie, unless Gary Cooper would play him. After about 20 years, and the upcoming likelihood of the US entering WW2, he finally agreed. Once they met, York and Cooper became fast friends, and remained so until Cooper passed.

[WBDE]

Gary Cooper did very credible work depicting one of the greatest soldiers of World War I

[rollingthunder]

Never get tired of watching Gary in this motion picture.

[stevefowler]

My experience wasn't quite as dramatic in the Marine Corps, but I had also grown up with rifles and shotguns with my Dad teaching me to shoot as an 8 year old when he bought me my first rifle (an Ithaca single shot .22 short rifle) and subsequently hunting with everything from an Ithaca .22 LR semi auto to a Winchester .30-30 lever action, and a .270 Winchester bolt action and various shotguns. I took to the M16 in '75 in boot on Parris Island like a duck to water. Qualifying one point from a perfect score and receiving my PFC for being High Series shooter. I had the only nice words spoken to me in my 13 weeks two and a half days on Parris Island when after Qual day my Sr. DI handed me my card and said "you were high score in the Series, nice shooting".

[bruanlokisson]

It wasn't just his skill at shooting, it was so many great qualities all in one man that made him what he was.

[Gonzo]

I've seen this movie so many times and I never tire of it....one of the best Army Movies I've ever seen...thank you for the clip.

[aaaaaaaaaaaa]

This is better film than most Hollywood made past decade or more.

[AniwayasSong]

I remember going to our little local theater to watch this with Papa and my three older brothers. As the only daughter (And unyielding Tomboy!), 'They' didn't think I should go, or that 'I' would like this movie (Due to the length and all the many serious topics, then violence at the end). I *ADORED* this movie, have it in my own Library, along with the book about this amazing Man and his Life!
Love this scene almost more than any other! Papa taught us all how to shoot as very young children, and I've been enjoying it for over 55 years now. While the 'Platforms' may be new and evolve over time, the basics of shooting remain the same, and if you've Mastered them, the rest is easy in comparison.

Thanks for sharing this clip!

[rogercornett]

Growing up in Kentucky, if you couldn’t shoot, you didn’t eat. I expect it was the same in Tennessee.

[kaspar_]

every boy in my 6th grade class had a .22 or a .410 and we had been shooting and hunting for years. never heard of an accident or a school shooting until modern times. girls could shoot too, but none admitted it. America is surely a perplexing place now.

[theduke]

York originally enlisted as a conscientious objector on religious grounds, but after confering with a priest and his faith, York request transfer to a combat unit. York got lots of guff from his fellow troopers until he got to france. Man changed a lot of minds when everyone realized just how much York valued life, friend or foe, as well as how many enemies he was willing to kill to bring everyone one of his comrades home.

[jeffreyburress]

I knew his youngest son, Andrew. He related the sharp shooting they portrayed his father as being was true. Andy said behind their house was a little storage building they stored cow, horse and chicken feed in. Sometimes they would spill some grain and that attracted crows. He said his dad would pick up a .22 rifle and shoot crows out of the air as they flew away. Said he did this several times and never saw him miss. That's something crows as they flew through the air with a .22 rifle. Sadly, Andy passed away last year.

[John-hbjm]

The Great Escape and Sgt. York my favorite military movies. Semper Fi.

[alanhelton]

Alvin York… that’s a soldier’s soldier right there.

[timheavrin]

Sounds like conscientious objectors took a lot of gup until Alvin York in WW1 and then Desmond Doss in WW2 came along and proved not all of them are cowards. RIP to both heroes and Medal of Honor recipients.

[Kennethvitatoe-jcpv]

My dad was from TN, he had me with a gun when I was 8 years old, I was USAF, so on the target range with a M16 I was shooting like in my back yard LOL, 73 out of 75 !

[richardwoodell]

In later years, Gary Cooper said that Sergeant York was one of his favorite characters!

[mgsacto]

One of my favorite movies of all time .. especially like the scene where it shows him coming into Crossville Tennessee ... that was the town my Dad grew up in Pretty special