Captain Robert Stevenson Young O-1312101

Captain Robert Stevenson Young O1312101 US Army KIA DSC. He was born on April 24, 1919, in El Paso, Texas the son of  Frank Goley Young and Madeline El Paso Keer Young of 610 North Pennsylvania Ave Roswell New Mexico. At the time of his enlistment he was 6 foot 1 inch weighed 248 pounds had brown hair and Brown eyes and was working for the New Mexico State Highway Department. He served in Combat with Headquarters Company, 255th Infantry regiment, 63rd Infantry Division, and A Company,255th Infantry regiment,63rd Infantry Division. He was wounded in action on March 16, 1945. He was Killed in action on April 15, 1945 at the age of 25.

On April 15, 1945 while serving with A Company, near Waldenburg, Germany. When his unit was held up by fire from the strategically located enemy, Captain Young advanced on a machine gun position under covering fire from his scouts and was wounded by a sniper. Undeterred, he continued throwing grenades and eliminated three gunners. He then assaulted a second emplacement which he neutralized, in spite of raking fire. There at the third nest, he crawled into a ditch within 15 yards of the spot from which he threw the final grenade to complete removal of the enemy threat.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Crossthe Bronze Stare Medal, Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, The American Theater of operations Medal, The European African Middle Eastern Theater of operations Medal with  two battle stars. the World War Two Victory Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge. His body was returned to the united states in 1948 he is buried at South Park Cemetery in Roswell, New Mexico.

 

1- Headquarters, U.S. Forces-European Theater, General Orders No. 242 (19 September 1945).
2- the U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
3- the Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1932
4- the Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997
5- 1920 United States Federal Census
6- 1930 United States Federal Census

 

 

 

By direction of the President the Distinguished Service Cross is awarded posthumously to Robert S. Young, 01 312 101, Captain, Company A, 255th Infantry Regiment for extraordinary heroism in action on 14 April 1945, near Waldenburg, Germany. When his unit was held up by fire from the strategically located enemy, Captain Young advanced on a machine gun position under covering fire from his scouts and was wounded by a sniper. Undeterred, he continued throwing grenades and eliminated three gunners. He then assaulted a second emplacement which he neutralized, in spite of raking fire. There at the third nest, he crawled into a ditch within 15 yards of the spot from which he threw the final grenade to complete removal of the enemy threat. Captain Young’s act of supreme courage opened the way to attainment of the battalion objective and is representative of the finest in heroic achievement. Entered military service from New Mexico.
Posthumously awarded.