In October 1918, Alvin York was part of a group of seventeen soldiers sent to attack a post of German machine guns. Six of the men were killed and three more wounded after they captured a group of German soldiers, leaving York as the highest ranking officer of the remaining eight men. The seven soldiers beneath him took cover, guarding the prisoners and tending to the wounded, while York advanced on the German machine guns alone.
With his M1917 Enfield Rifle Sergeant York picked off 18 German soldiers while the machine guns fired on his position. When the remaining Germans realized there was only one man to kill six of them charged with bayonets. At this point York had run out of ammo for his rifle so he drew his pistol and shot all six before they could reach him.
During the shooting the German First Lieutenant in charge of the position was trying to shoot York with his pistol but miraculously missed with every shot. Seeing the losses he had incurred he then offered to surrender.
When York and his seven men returned from the engagement they brought with them 132 captured German soldiers.
