Walter X. Young

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Walter Xavier Young
October 22, 1918 - August 7, 1942
Place of birth	Chicago, Illinois
Place of death	KIA on Guadalcanal
Allegiance	USMC
Years of service	1941-1942
Rank	First Lieutenant
Unit	1st Marine Parachute Battalion
Battles/wars	Battle of Guadalcanal
Awards	Navy Cross Purple Heart

Walter Xavier Young (22 October 1918 – 7 August 1942) was an officer of the United States Marine Corps during World War II.

Young was born in Chicago, Illinois, on 22 October 1918. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on 6 January 1941, and following training at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 29 May 1941. After commissioning, Lt. Young received training at the Signal Corps School, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and was then assigned to the Marine Barracks, New River, North Carolina, into 1942.

Promoted to First Lieutenant on 6 June 1942, he was communications officer of the Marine parachute battalion which took part in the attack upon Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. During the extremely dangerous initial landings on Gavutu, Lt. Young singlehandedly assaulted a Japanese-held dugout commanding a portion of the dock on the island which was a key objective. While successfully penetrating and neutralizing the dugout, Young was wounded by rifle fire, and died later that day. For his heroic action, Lt. Young was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

In 1944, the transport, USS Walter X. Young (APD-131) was named in his honor.

[edit] References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.