Rodger Wilton Young - Military Service

Military Service

In 1938, at the age of 20, Young joined the Ohio National Guard. Seeking an opportunity to gain some extra income and believing that because of his medical issues he would not pass a medical for the Regular Army, he decided to join the National Guard instead. He was accepted and posted to Company "B" of the 148th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 37th Infantry Division.At only 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 m) tall, Young was one of the shortest men in his company; nevertheless, despite this and the fact that he wore glasses, he was considered a good soldier.

In October 1940 Young's unit was activated for Federal service as part of the United States government's preparations for future involvement in the war that was then raging in Europe. A corporal at the time, he undertook the role of a small arms instructor training recruits, and following his promotion to sergeant served as a squad leader. Later, in 1942, following Japan's entry into the war, the 148th was deployed to Fiji and then to the Solomon Islands, where they undertook training prior to being deployed to New Georgia. But Young's hearing and eyesight had gotten worse, and he became concerned that these deficits might affect his ability to command in combat, putting his squad at risk. To eliminate this risk, shortly before the 148th landed on New Georgia, Young requested that his rank be reduced to private.

Initially his request, made to none other than the 148th's regimental commander, was met with some skepticism. Indeed it was believed that Young was attempting to find a way to remove himself from combat; however, following an examination by a medical officer it was found that Young was almost deaf and the doctor recommended that he be sent to a field hospital. This would mean that he would miss the landing that the regiment was scheduled to undertake, but Young wanted to stay with his fellow soldiers and after pleading his case, he was allowed to remain in the unit.

A week later, on July 31, 1943, near Munda on New Georgia, Young performed the deeds that led to his posthumously receiving the United States' military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Late in the afternoon, Young was part of a 20-man patrol that was sent out under the command of a lieutenant to reconnoiter territory held by the Japanese. By 4:00 p.m. the patrol had begun to move back to US lines along a trail when they were ambushed. Pinned down by intense fire from five Japanese soldiers in a machine gun pit that was concealed on higher ground 75 yards (69 m) away, two soldiers were killed in the initial burst. As the patrol attempted a flanking attack two more Americans were killed, and so the patrol commander gave the order to withdraw. Young had been wounded in the initial burst, but claiming that he had not heard the order and believing that the machine gun had to be destroyed so that the patrol could escape, he ignored the lieutenant's order and began creeping towards the Japanese position. 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 was killed. By diverting the fire of the machine gun he was responsible for several enemy casualties and enabled his platoon to withdraw without further loss.

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