Documents the stories of a legendary World War I soldier and his fellow Medal of Honor-decorated patrol members, heralding their courageous capture of dozens of German adversaries in the Argonne Forest. October 8, 1918 was a banner day for heroes of the American Expeditionary Force. Thirteen men performed heroic deeds that would earn them Medals of Honor. Alvin Cullum York, a farmer from Tennessee, was said to have single-handedly killed two dozen Germans and captured another 132 of the enemy plus thirty-five machine guns before noon on that fateful Day of Valor. Nelson unspools the complete story of Alvin York and the events that occurred in the Argonne Forest on that day. He gives voice to sixteen men among the many who fought beside York, and pays homage to their bravery and sacrifice. -- adapted from jacket

The day -- The man -- The paths of righteousness -- The salt of the earth -- A time for war -- From Paradise to battle -- Toward the unknown -- Lost boys -- To kingdom come -- Day of days, part one -- Day of days, part two -- An epochal exploit -- What would York do -- A time for peace -- Waiting for the hero -- A clear conscience -- The spoils of war -- A one-man army? -- His war diary -- How a hillbilly got a farm -- An imitation of war -- Old soldiers.