American Heroes

Remember the Vets

Rodger Wilton Young

Click this link to learn more about this American hero:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodger_Wilton_Young

Few common people inspire someone to mention their name in literature after their deaths. Private Young is one of them. In the back of Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers is a page dedicated to the the heroic events that led to Private Young's death. Heinlein even names a starship after Private Young in his book.

Medal of Honor citation

Young's Medal of Honor citation reads:

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. Birth: Tiffin, 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 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.  ^*

New Georgia Island is where Private Rodger W. Young lost his life in World War II

I have nothing funny to say. Just have a safe Memorial Day and take a moment from your busy life and think about all the men and women who have paid so much for our freedom. Take time to thank a vet today.

* Source Wikipedia

Images: Wikipedia and Yahoo Images

Freedom: U.S. Service men and women

Leon