Sgt. York

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pmcelrath

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May 17, 2001
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I just finished watching one of my favorite movies on TCM,"Sgt.York".
It seems living in mountainous country creates a certain character in a people. In our society we use the derogatory term "hillbilly" to describe them, in Nepal they are "untouchables". Part of my appreciation of Khukuris and Gorkhas stems from my recognition of them as my distant but familiar kin. Are there any other "hillbillys" here who feel the same way?

Patrick McElrath
 
Pat, IMHO, you've hit on a facet of human personality that is spread through the whole world. The philosophy, or perhaps attitude, that "It's a great life if you don't weaken" sustains many people. It is more prevalent in some places than in others, and these people are always surrounded by whiners who have even less because they simply refuse to work. Most of these can be counted on to start explanations of their condition with "There should be", "I'm too good to" ad infinitum. Hardscrabble people usually don't have time to comment - too busy working or looking for it, and whatever will feed them - no false pride. They never seem to lose their sense of humor. It may harden, and some of jokes and comments can sound raw, but it is amazing how little sarcasm and sense of "poor me" can be found in it.

I think it is just a little peek at the backbone of Hillbillys and Ghorkas, Desert Rats, and a whole bunch of farm folk.

Rant over - I'm all beter,now :rolleyes:
 
Being born and raised in Kansas where it's hard to find a hill I can't honestly call myself a hillbilly but feel a high degree of kinship with them. I guess I'd qualify as a hayseed.

Memory test. I don't think I've seen Sgt. York since it played in the Cresent Threater in Cherokee, Kansas about 60 years ago. Gary Cooper played York and if I remember right he spit on a finger and wiped his sight before making a 5 or 6 hundred yard kill. Right or wrong?
 
I still have relatives down in Arkansas that have to swing on grape vines to cross the crick to get to their homes'. :)
Dayumed good people who will do anything it takes to help a neighbor or friend along.:cool:

And Bro if my memory's correct you're absolutely right about wiping the front sight.:)
 
Well, now you guys know why I plan on leaving the city and moving to the mountains when I finish up working for the gov't in a couple of years.

Patrick, before I headed up to NC last week, I read a couple of books about the people who settled the region (near Bryson City, NC) that I was going to spend my time in.

The first one is "Our Southern Highlanders" by Horace Kephart. Written during the early twentieth century, the book is a classic about the history of the region. (I paid a visit to Kephart's grave while in Bryson City, and hiked many of the trails in the Deep Creek area where he lived from 1904 on.)

The second one, which I found while up there, is by Duane Oliver. It's called "Hazel Creek, From Then Till Now". It's self published. Oliver is kin to the folks that settled Cades Cove (within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park) and later the Hazel Creek area on the north shore of Fontana Lake.

Both fascinating reads for anyone interested in the history of the "mountain" people of Appalachia.
 
I was watching the exact same broadcast of that great flick today. Uncle you are correct about him wetting his finger and using it to wet his front sight. "Cuts down on the haze, I always wet my sights when I'm 'bout to do a bit o' shootin'."
 
I guess the circuits are not completely corroded but it seems the short term are in worse shape than long term.
 
Walosi, thanks for reminding me of that saying, "It's a great life if you don't weaken". It was one my grandfather used often.
 
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