Photo: Roger W Young-World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient

Photographer: Don Morfe
Taken: June 13, 2002
Caption: Roger W Young-World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Additional Description: He is buried in McPherson Cemetery, Section 3N, Lot 0541. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: *YOUNG, RODGER W. (Killed in Action) • Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division • Place and date: On New Georgia, Solomon Islands, 31 July 1943 • Entered service at: Clyde, Ohio • G.O. No.: 3, 6 January 1944 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 machinegun 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 machinegun 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 handgrenades, 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.
Submitted: September 14, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland.
Database Locator Identification Number: p398615
File Size: 0.053 Megabytes

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