Rodger W. Young

Rodger Wilton Young (April 28, 1918 - July 31, 1943) was a posthumous Medal of Honor recipient during World War II.

Early Life

Rodger Young was born in Tiffin, Ohio As a teenager he tried to participate in football, basketball, and baseball, however, due to his small stature though his activity in football was null and was limited in basketball and baseball until he showed his determination and was put into a few basketball games. He suffered an injury in a basketball game that caused a head injury that dulled his senses. Struggling in high school because of his injury he eventually left high school to instead help support his family.[2]

Military Career

In 1938 he join the Ohio National Guard. At the time he joined he was 5'2" and weighed 125 pounds. He trained at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania. He served as a instructor of a rifle range and won marksmanship medals. He also achieved the rank of Sergeant and was a squad leader. He achieved this all the while hiding the severity of the effects from his high school head injury.

He was deployed to the Pacific Theater where he first went to the Fiji and Solomon Islands after they were already controlled. While on the islands Rodger Young trained his men to the best of his abilities. It came to the point though that he realized that his previous injury may cause problems in the chain of command and cause the death of his men. He decided to voluntarily ask for a demotion to the rank of private. His selfish act was at first thought to be an act of cowardice by his CO, but they later clarified it with each other.

Rodger Young would partake in Operation Cartwheel and would be tasked with capturing and holding an airstrip at Munda. During a patrol Rodger Young's platoon, under the command of Sergeant Walter Rigby, was ambushed by a hidden Japanese MG nest. The platooon was pinned down and had no way to effectively retreat or advance. After several people were wounded Rodger Young started a crawling advance to the MG nest. During his advance he suffered multiple wounds some immobilizing one of his arms. Despite his multiple wounds he continued his advanced and eventually reached fifteen feet in front of the enemy fortification. He then armed a grenade using one arm and his teeth to pull the pin. He then stood up into the hail of enemy bullets and threw the grenade. The grenade destroyed the fortification. At the cost of his own life Rodger Young saved fifteen of the twenty man patrol.

Medal of Honor

Due to his actions Rodger Young received the Medal of Honor posthumously in January of 1944.

The President of the United States takes pride in awarding the Medal of Honor posthumously to

PRIVATE RODGER W. YOUNG, COMPANY B, 148th

INFANTRY, UNITED STATES ARMY

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

"For distinguishing himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy on New Georgia, Solomon Islands. On 31 July 1943, the infantry company, of which Private 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, Private 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 seventy-five yards away. The initial burst wounded Private Young. As the platoon started to obey the order to withdraw, Private Young called out the he could see the enemy emplacement, whereupon he started creeping toward it. Another burst from the machine-gun wounded him the second time. Despite his 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. Private 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."

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