Fatherless and poor as a teen, Alvin York supported his large family by hunting and working as a logger in northern Tennessee.  When he was drafted into the US Army for World War I, he was faced with a decision.  Follow the pacifist, non violence beliefs he was raised with or learn to protect his fellow soldiers.  York was right in choosing the later because he would go on to save his entire Army unit in France, take out a machine gun nest and help capture over 100 German soldiers.  After being awarded the US military's highest honor, York would go down in history as a poor Appalachian boy who continues to inspire thousands.