[2][3][4] His mother died when he was five years old, and he was raised in Hartselle by his aunt and uncle, John and Eula Cooper, who became his legal guardians.

In 1934, he was appointed to the United States Military Academy (West Point) by U.S. Representative Archibald Hill Carmichael.

In 1942, with the country now involved in the war, he took part in the North African campaign, including the Operation Torch landings at Oran.

The regiment had lost six commanders in less than month, and had sustained high casualties in post-Overlord combat in Normandy, so morale was at an ebb.

[4] After the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, he continued to lead the 331st Infantry during the initial stages of Allied-occupied Germany, and he returned to the United States in April 1946.

He returned to the United States in July 1960 and was assigned as chief of the International Division in the army's Office of Research and Development.

[4] In October 1962, he was assigned to duty in South Vietnam as director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Development Field Unit and Joint Operations Evaluation Group.

He remained in this position until July 1965, and led his unit during Operation Power Pack, the U.S. intervention in the Dominican Civil War.

[4] In retirement, York was a resident of Hartselle, where his civic activities included helping start a halfway house for teenagers recovering from drug addiction.