Private Rodger Wilton Young was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on July 31, 1943 in New Georgia during World War II. At the time he was serving with 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division. Young was 25 years old.
Young was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 17, 1944. Fort Knox, Kentucky, presented by Maj. Gen. Charles Scott to his family.
Young was born on April 28, 1918 in Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Clyde, Sandusky County, Ohio. He is buried at McPherson Cemetery in Clyde, Ohio. His medal is held by Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center (on loan to Clyde Museum, Clyde, Ohio), Fremont, OH.
Young is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 256 credited to Ohio.
Official 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.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
The initial burst wounded Pvt. Young.
Despite the wounds, he continued his heroic advance, attracting enemy fire and answering with rifle fire.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (July 31, 1943).
- Age at death: 25
- Resting place: McPherson Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Timeline
- April 28, 1918Born in Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio
- July 31, 1943Act of valor — New GeorgiaAge 25. 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- January 17, 1944Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyFort Knox, Kentucky, presented by Maj. Gen. Charles Scott to his family
- Resting placeMcPherson CemeteryClyde, Ohio
Biography
Rodger Wilton Young (April 28, 1918 – July 31, 1943) was a United States Army infantryman from Ohio during World War II. Born in the small town of Tiffin, Ohio, in 1918, Young suffered a sports injury in high school that led to his becoming nearly deaf and blind. Despite this, he was able to pass the exams necessary to enter the Ohio National Guard. Soon after the United States entered World War II, Young's company was activated as part of the U.S. Army. Soon after his activation, in 1943, Young was killed on the island of New Georgia in Solomon Islands while helping his platoon withdraw from a Japanese ambush.
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