Rodger Young

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Rodger Young
April 28, 1918 - July 31, 1943
Rodger Young, Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth	Tiffin, Ohio
Place of death	KIA on New Georgia
Allegiance	U.S. National Guard U.S. Army
Rank	Sergeant
Battles/wars	World War II
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 New Georgia (in the New Georgia Islands) while saving his platoon. For his actions, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor.

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 diminished 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 75 yards 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 the 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 Japanese machine gun, Young allowed 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. Rodger Young Park in Fremont, Ohio is named for him.

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.

[edit] Medal of Honor Citation

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, 6 January 1944.

Medal of Honor Citation: On 31 July 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 75 yards 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.

[edit] Trivia

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.