The Sergeant York Discovery Expedition

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The American Forces Network (AFN) in Heidelberg, Germany has been following SYDE and the search for the "York Spot".


Air force Staff Sergeant Kevin Dennison (left) anchors the breaking news that The Sergeant York Discovery Expedition has found the location where Alvin C. York earned the Medal of Honor.  (watch video below)

Work on the SGT. York Historic Trail
and Memorial phase one complete
 (discover more below)

The Sergeant York Discovery Expedition (SYDE) has taken many trips to the Argonne forest in search of the precise location where Alvin York earned the Medal of Honor. Below are some of the stories covering our search from failed attempts to our success in the discovery of the "York Spot" in October 2006.  We will post additional information on upcoming and recently published articles as they become available so please visit us again soon.

Artifacts go to Washington D.C.
Sergeant York battlefield artifacts to go on display in the Pentagon and museums across the United States.

In February 2009, the actual artifacts recovered from where Sergeant York earned the Medal of Honor on 8 October 1918, were transferred to the Center of Military History (CMH). This included roughly 1,000 of the most important items, encompassing some 30 different types of American and 70 different types of German items, personal effects, equipment pieces, etc. The items included German and American bullets, cartridges, canteens, pieces of belts, buttons, combs, brushes, mirrors, whistles, bottles, bayonets, watches, first aid kits, entrenching tools, coins, gas masks, horse shoes, harmonicas, mess kits, straps, hooks, etc.

This endeavor goes back to our extensive research in the US and German archives to once and for all resolve the debate on whether there was evidence that York accomplished the incredible feat of capturing 132 German soldiers after eliminating a German machine gun position and single handedly fighting off a bayonet attack. The artifacts from the fight between York and the German Imperial Army were exactly where they should have been – even after ninety years. After thousands of painstaking hours in the French Argonne Forest, we carefully recovered these valuable pieces of American history.

After the recovery of these items was accomplished and our findings were concluded as accurate, we worked with officials in France, Germany and the USA to construct the Sergeant York Historic Trail on the battlefield and erected two monuments to forever preserve and mark the location where York’s incredible feat occurred. These were dedicated on the 90th anniversary of the event in October 2008.
See www.sgtyorkdiscovery.com for details.

Moving the artifacts took coordination with an incredible amount of diverse government officials from Europe and the United States, customs, the US Army and the USAF. The flight was fantastic and we flew in an USAF C-17 cargo plane, we sat within eye-shot of the artifacts.

Upon arriving in Washington DC, we documented each item with professional artifact technicians from the Center of Military History, who now have responsibility for the items. They plan to first display these items in the Pentagon and then in museums around the nation (CMH has oversight of some 53 museums around the world).

During the handover of the precious artifacts, CMH conducted a ceremony that included members of the York family and the CMH leadership. The purpose of this event was to celebrate the preservation of the physical evidence related to one of the most amazing feats of heroism in American history. 

As for our efforts in the Sergeant York Discovery Expedition, we thank all of the people in France, Germany and the United States who have helped make this happen. Our work is not done. We intend to continue to improve the SGT York Historic Trail in the Argonne Forest of France and to do our part to honor the legacy and heroism of Alvin York for the next generation. 
SEE PHOTOS BELOW and on RIGHT
 
Endorsements:
People sometimes ask if any third party sources support our claim to finding the exact location where SGT. York earned the Medal of Honor.  The answer is, YES, and here is what they have to say.  Click on the letters below for larger views.

The Center of Military History (CMH) is the final word on Army history and fully endorse SYDE's discovery as accurate.  This endorsement includes CMH sponsorship of SYDE's work to preserve the SGT York discovery and artifacts.  Dr. Clark is the director of CMH.  

MG Zabecki is one of the most senior US Army historians and is the US Army expert on World War One.  He is extensively published on the Great War.



A letter of endorsement from the French Military Mission to NATO, who reviewed the SYDE findings and concluded that they are 100% correct.
(en français)



Photos of the Artifact Transfer to Washington D.C.








SYDE makes a trip to the Argonne

  LTC Douglas (Vincent) Mastriano, in the Argonne Forest
  during the search for the exact location of the "York Spot".  
            (Click photo to view in Window Medis Player)

      (Right-click here to save this story to your computer)

            "York Spot" FOUND!!
    LTC Douglas Mastriano near the actual location where
      Alvin York earned the Medal of Honor on 8 OCT 1918.
            (Click photo to view in Windows Media Player)

     (Right-click here to save this story to your computer)

York Trail open!
SYDE honors York, soldiers and preserves a piece of history.

The Sergeant York Discovery Expedition is pleased to announce the official opening of the SGT. York Historic Trail and Monument.  SYDE teamed up with Grandpre Developpement and the Boy Scouts to build the 2 mile loop-trail. The trail takes visitors through the battlefield where the 82nd infantry fought for the Argonne and eventually leads to the SGT. York Monument.  The stone plaque is located near the exact location were York fought off a German-led bayonet attack while capturing 132 German prisoners on 8 OCT 1918. (Click here for pictures) 

The historic trail and monument honors York, all those who served in France during WWI and preserves an important chapter in American Military history.  Below is a photo of the plaque fresh out of the shipping crate.


                 (Click HERE for a larger view)

SYDE needs your help to complete the trial! 
Although the SGT York Trail is open for visitors, improvements are still needed. Tax deductible donations are now being accepted through a non-profit organization called Bill Rudge Ministries.   100% of donations are used for the trail.  Click HERE for details and see how you can participate.

Dedication Day a Success!
SYDE led the effort to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of York's actions in the Argonne.  The Commemoration Ceremony and dedication of the SGT York Historic Trail and Monument  were held on October 4th 2008 in Chatel Chehery, France.  

York's son George Edward York, grandson COL Gerald York and great grand-daughter Deborah York were among the honored guests, dignitaries, and nearly 150 Boy Scouts to attend in support of the ceremony to officially open the trail.    More details on the ceremony can be found here.

Click here to join others in funding the Sergeant York Historic Trail and Monument.  Your generous gifts are still needed are appreciated.
      

SYDE in the PRESS

    US Army News  NEW!
    Artifacts go to Washington D.C.

    American Forces Europe  
    TV Broadcast on SGT York

    US ARMY News  
    Article on Army news website
    PDF Version click here

    French Regional Newspaper  
    Article in French

    Builder of the York monument  
    Website of the company who built the
    stone marker.


   Press Release 26 MAY 2008
   Stars and Stripes

   French article on the York Trail
   Department of Tourism-Argonne
   (In French, near bottom of page)

   Magazine Article July 2007
   The Armchair General Magazine

   Press Release 26 OCT 2006
   International Herald Tribune

   Press Release 21 OCT 2006
   Stars and Stripes

SYDE on the WEB

   Web Story 24 MAR 2007
   CBNNews.com



Photos of the Artifact Transfer to Washington D.C.







 
Related York and other Links

   German side of the York story
   Military History Magazine

   Meuse-Argonne Historic trail
   Boy Scouts of America

   Western Front Association

   Romagne 14 -18 Museum