Inaccuracies
The film depicts York as the eldest of three children. In real life, he was the third of eleven children. His two older brothers had moved away from home by the time his father died, so York became the man of the house.
In the film, York became a Christian after he was struck by lightning while riding his mule. Real-life accounts of his conversion vary, though all accounts agree that York quit drinking and fighting and started attending church, and later became a genuine convert. The film depicts York coming home to a new house and farm provided for him by the state of Tennessee. In real life, York had been home and married a few years before the state gave him his new farm.
The film depicts York, on October 8, 1918, using an M1903 Springfield rifle and a German Luger pistol to receive the Medal of Honor. The actual rifle used by Sergeant Alvin York was an M1917 Enfield rifle and is currently located at Middle Tennessee State University. According to his diary, Sergeant York also used a .45 Colt automatic pistol on that fateful day.
Read more about this topic: Sergeant York