Talk:Alvin York
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"... led him to file as a conscientious objector at the start of WWI ". Surely the USA was not registering conscientious objectors as early as 1914? PML
- For US citizens, WWI officially began in 1917. The wording could be improved I think. Stan 14:14, 21 Mar 2004 (UTC)
- Post-WWII, the procedure was that 17-year-old males registered for the draft, whether there was a war on or not, and the forms asked "are you a conscientious objector to war in any form?" I'm not sure they mentioned "on the basis of relgious training and belief" at that point; i won't rule out their asking that only if you answered yes.
- It is likely that the crucial date was either whenever draft registration was revived, or when he turned a specific age, and that the wording has not accurate intepretation.
- This may at least suggest what to research.
- In the period i describe, BTW, it was possible to assert a CO claim later, but the only reason to put it off would be if you were initially in doubt; it should be obvious that you'd later be asked "Well, you weren't a CO when you registered; what happened in the meantime that we should believe changed that?" --Jerzy(t) 01:20, 2004 Mar 22 (UTC)