Rodger Wilton Young

Infobox Military Person
name= Rodger Young
born= birth date|1918|4|28
died= death date and age|1943|7|31|1918|4|28
placeofbirth= Tiffin, Ohio
placeofdeath= KIA on New Georgia
placeofburial=


caption= Rodger Young while a sergeant
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States National Guard United States Army
serviceyears=
rank= Sergeant
commands=
unit= 37th Infantry Division
battles= World War II Battle of New Georgia
awards= Medal of Honor

Rodger Wilton Young (April 28, 1918 – July 31, 1943) was an American infantryman in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was killed on the island of New Georgia while helping his platoon withdraw under enemy fire. For his actions, he posthumously received the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. Young is remembered in a song, "The Ballad of Rodger Young" by Frank Loesser, which extolled his courage and willingness to die to protect his comrades in arms.

Military service

Young, a member of the United States National Guard, attained the rank of sergeant (as shown by his rank insignia in many photographs), but before going to war, he requested that his rank be reduced to private. As a result of a childhood accident, he had increasing problems with his eyesight and hearing. He had originally joined the National Guard, believing that he would not be accepted into the regular army given his health problems. When his unit was called up, he feared that as a sergeant he would be a liability. After being examined by the company doctor, it was determined that Young was now almost completely deaf and he returned to active duty with the rank of private.

On 31 July 1943, on New Georgia, Young's platoon was pinned down by intense fire from a Japanese machine gun concealed on higher ground convert|75|yd|m|0 away. The initial burst wounded Young. As the platoon started to withdraw, Young called out that he could see the enemy emplacement, and he started creeping toward it. Another burst from the machine gun wounded him a second time. Despite his wounds, he continued his advance, attracting enemy fire and answering with rifle fire. When he was close enough to the machine gun emplacement, he began throwing hand grenades, and while doing so, he was hit again and killed. By diverting the fire of the machine gun, Young enabled his platoon to withdraw without loss. He was also responsible for several enemy casualties.

In 1949, Young's remains were returned to the United States and he is now buried in McPherson Cemetery in Clyde, Ohio.

Medal of Honor citation

[http://www.army.mil/cmh/mohiib2.htm From the United States Army's Medal of Honor List]

Rank and organization: Private, United States Army, 148th Infantry, US 37th Infantry Division. Place and date: On New Georgia, Solomon Islands, 31 July, 1943. Entered service at: Clyde, Ohio. Birth: Tiffin, Ohio. G.O. No.: 3, January 6, 1944.

Medal of Honor Citation: On July 31, 1943, the infantry company of which Pvt. Young was a member, was ordered to make a limited withdrawal from the battle line in order to adjust the battalion's position for the night. At this time, Pvt. Young's platoon was engaged with the enemy in a dense jungle where observation was very limited. The platoon suddenly was pinned down by intense fire from a Japanese machine gun concealed on higher ground only convert|75|yd|m|0 away. The initial burst wounded Pvt. Young. As the platoon started to obey the order to withdraw, Pvt. Young called out that he could see the enemy emplacement, whereupon he started creeping toward it. Another burst from the machine gun wounded him the second time. Despite the wounds, he continued his heroic advance, attracting enemy fire and answering with rifle fire. When he was close enough to his objective, he began throwing hand grenades, and while doing so was hit again and killed. Pvt. Young's bold action in closing with this Japanese pillbox and thus diverting its fire, permitted his platoon to disengage itself, without loss, and was responsible for several enemy casualties.

Honors

The Night Infiltration Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, is named for him. A requirement for graduation from the U.S. Army Infantry School, soldiers must crawl over 100 meters through sand, mud, and water while live rounds from M60 or M240B machine guns are fired overhead. Soldiers must also react to artillery simulators and flares, set off randomly during the exercise. Originally the live rounds were fired at chest level, but in recent years it was mandated that they pass well overhead of a standing person.

In Robert A. Heinlein's novel "Starship Troopers", the troop transport "TFCT Rodger Young" is named for him, and the song "The Ballad of Rodger Young" by Frank Loesser is featured prominently throughout the book. The ending of the book also contains Young's citation for gallantry.

From 1946 until the mid-1950s, there was a veterans' housing project in Los Angeles, California known as Rodger Young Village.

Rodger Young Park in Fremont, Ohio, is named for him.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II

External links

*" [http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1981/38405/west_point/songs/RodgerYoung.htm The Ballad of Rodger Young] " Lyrics courtesy of [http://www.west-point.org/ The West Point Connection]
* [http://www.sandusky-county-scrapbook.net/Young.htm Sandusky County Scrapbook]
* [http://www.homeofheroes.com/profiles/profiles_young.html Rodger Young – Little Man, Big Hero]
* [http://www.rbhayes.org/mssfind/lh_coll/youngrw.htm Biographical Sketch]

Persondata
NAME=Rodger Wilton Young
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Rodger W. Young
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=April 28, 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH=Tiffin, Ohio
DATE OF DEATH=July 31, 1943
PLACE OF DEATH=New Georgia