WW2 Navy Cross Recipient
Last Rank
First Lieutenant
Last Primary MOS
2502-Communication Officer
Last MOSGroup
Communications
Last Unit
1942-1942, 2502, Marine Barracks/Marine Barracks New River
Home State
Illinois
Year of Birth
1918
Home Town
Not Specified Last Address
Chicago
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Casualty Date
Aug 07, 1942
Cause
Hostile, Died Reason
Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location
Solomon Islands Conflict
World War II */World War II Walter Xavier Young (22 October 1918 ? 7 August 1942) was an officer of the United States Marine Corps during World War II.
Young was born in Chicago, Illinois, on 22 October 1918. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on 6 January 1941, and following training at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 29 May 1941. After commissioning, Lt. Young received training at the Signal Corps School, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and was then assigned to the Marine Barracks, New River, North Carolina, into 1942.
Promoted to First Lieutenant on 6 June 1942, he was communications officer of the Marine parachute battalion which took part in the attack upon Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. During the extremely dangerous initial landings on Gavutu, Lt. Young singlehandedly assaulted a Japanese-held dugout commanding a portion of the dock on the island which was a key objective. While successfully penetrating and neutralizing the dugout, Young was wounded by rifle fire, and died later that day. For his heroic action, Lt. Young was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.
Name: Walter X Young
Inducted From: Illinois
Rank: First Lieutenant
Combat Organization: United States Marine Corps
Death Date: 7 Aug 1942
Monument: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Last Known Status: Buried
U.S. Awards: Purple Heart Medal
Navy Cross Medal
Comments/Citation
*YOUNG, WALTER XAVIER
First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
1st Parachute Battalion, 1st Marine Division
Date of Action: August 7, 1942
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Walter Xavier Young, First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism as Communications Officer, First Parachute Battalion, First Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Gavutu, Solomon Islands, August 7, 1942. During the extremely dangerous initial landings on Gavutu, First Lieutenant Young, on his own courageous initiative, fearlessly attacked several of the enemy in a single-handed attempt to neutralize a dugout which commanded a portion of the dock and constituted a grave menace to his comrades. Although fully aware of his imminent peril, he determinedly continued his voluntary action until, while effecting a daring entrance, he was fatally wounded by rifle or pistol fire from within the dugout. First Lieutenant Young's heroic spirit of self-sacrifice was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Serial 1113 (July 15, 1943)
Born: at Chicago, Illinois
Home Town: Chicago, Illinois
Last Rank
First Lieutenant
Last Primary MOS
2502-Communication Officer
Last MOSGroup
Communications
Last Unit
1942-1942, 2502, Marine Barracks/Marine Barracks New River
Home State
Illinois
Year of Birth
1918
Home Town
Not Specified Last Address
Chicago
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Casualty Date
Aug 07, 1942
Cause
Hostile, Died Reason
Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location
Solomon Islands Conflict
World War II */World War II Walter Xavier Young (22 October 1918 ? 7 August 1942) was an officer of the United States Marine Corps during World War II.
Young was born in Chicago, Illinois, on 22 October 1918. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on 6 January 1941, and following training at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 29 May 1941. After commissioning, Lt. Young received training at the Signal Corps School, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and was then assigned to the Marine Barracks, New River, North Carolina, into 1942.
Promoted to First Lieutenant on 6 June 1942, he was communications officer of the Marine parachute battalion which took part in the attack upon Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. During the extremely dangerous initial landings on Gavutu, Lt. Young singlehandedly assaulted a Japanese-held dugout commanding a portion of the dock on the island which was a key objective. While successfully penetrating and neutralizing the dugout, Young was wounded by rifle fire, and died later that day. For his heroic action, Lt. Young was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.
Name: Walter X Young
Inducted From: Illinois
Rank: First Lieutenant
Combat Organization: United States Marine Corps
Death Date: 7 Aug 1942
Monument: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Last Known Status: Buried
U.S. Awards: Purple Heart Medal
Navy Cross Medal
Comments/Citation
*YOUNG, WALTER XAVIER
First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
1st Parachute Battalion, 1st Marine Division
Date of Action: August 7, 1942
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Walter Xavier Young, First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism as Communications Officer, First Parachute Battalion, First Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Gavutu, Solomon Islands, August 7, 1942. During the extremely dangerous initial landings on Gavutu, First Lieutenant Young, on his own courageous initiative, fearlessly attacked several of the enemy in a single-handed attempt to neutralize a dugout which commanded a portion of the dock and constituted a grave menace to his comrades. Although fully aware of his imminent peril, he determinedly continued his voluntary action until, while effecting a daring entrance, he was fatally wounded by rifle or pistol fire from within the dugout. First Lieutenant Young's heroic spirit of self-sacrifice was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Serial 1113 (July 15, 1943)
Born: at Chicago, Illinois
Home Town: Chicago, Illinois
WW2 Navy Cross Recipient
Last Rank
First Lieutenant
Last Primary MOS
2502-Communication Officer
Last MOSGroup
Communications
Last Unit
1942-1942, 2502, Marine Barracks/Marine Barracks New River
Home State
Illinois
Year of Birth
1918
Home Town
Not Specified Last Address
Chicago
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Casualty Date
Aug 07, 1942
Cause
Hostile, Died Reason
Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location
Solomon Islands Conflict
World War II */World War II Walter Xavier Young (22 October 1918 ? 7 August 1942) was an officer of the United States Marine Corps during World War II.
Young was born in Chicago, Illinois, on 22 October 1918. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on 6 January 1941, and following training at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 29 May 1941. After commissioning, Lt. Young received training at the Signal Corps School, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and was then assigned to the Marine Barracks, New River, North Carolina, into 1942.
Promoted to First Lieutenant on 6 June 1942, he was communications officer of the Marine parachute battalion which took part in the attack upon Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. During the extremely dangerous initial landings on Gavutu, Lt. Young singlehandedly assaulted a Japanese-held dugout commanding a portion of the dock on the island which was a key objective. While successfully penetrating and neutralizing the dugout, Young was wounded by rifle fire, and died later that day. For his heroic action, Lt. Young was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.
Name: Walter X Young
Inducted From: Illinois
Rank: First Lieutenant
Combat Organization: United States Marine Corps
Death Date: 7 Aug 1942
Monument: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Last Known Status: Buried
U.S. Awards: Purple Heart Medal
Navy Cross Medal
Comments/Citation
*YOUNG, WALTER XAVIER
First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
1st Parachute Battalion, 1st Marine Division
Date of Action: August 7, 1942
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Walter Xavier Young, First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism as Communications Officer, First Parachute Battalion, First Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Gavutu, Solomon Islands, August 7, 1942. During the extremely dangerous initial landings on Gavutu, First Lieutenant Young, on his own courageous initiative, fearlessly attacked several of the enemy in a single-handed attempt to neutralize a dugout which commanded a portion of the dock and constituted a grave menace to his comrades. Although fully aware of his imminent peril, he determinedly continued his voluntary action until, while effecting a daring entrance, he was fatally wounded by rifle or pistol fire from within the dugout. First Lieutenant Young's heroic spirit of self-sacrifice was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Serial 1113 (July 15, 1943)
Born: at Chicago, Illinois
Home Town: Chicago, Illinois
Last Rank
First Lieutenant
Last Primary MOS
2502-Communication Officer
Last MOSGroup
Communications
Last Unit
1942-1942, 2502, Marine Barracks/Marine Barracks New River
Home State
Illinois
Year of Birth
1918
Home Town
Not Specified Last Address
Chicago
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Casualty Date
Aug 07, 1942
Cause
Hostile, Died Reason
Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location
Solomon Islands Conflict
World War II */World War II Walter Xavier Young (22 October 1918 ? 7 August 1942) was an officer of the United States Marine Corps during World War II.
Young was born in Chicago, Illinois, on 22 October 1918. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on 6 January 1941, and following training at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 29 May 1941. After commissioning, Lt. Young received training at the Signal Corps School, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and was then assigned to the Marine Barracks, New River, North Carolina, into 1942.
Promoted to First Lieutenant on 6 June 1942, he was communications officer of the Marine parachute battalion which took part in the attack upon Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. During the extremely dangerous initial landings on Gavutu, Lt. Young singlehandedly assaulted a Japanese-held dugout commanding a portion of the dock on the island which was a key objective. While successfully penetrating and neutralizing the dugout, Young was wounded by rifle fire, and died later that day. For his heroic action, Lt. Young was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.
Name: Walter X Young
Inducted From: Illinois
Rank: First Lieutenant
Combat Organization: United States Marine Corps
Death Date: 7 Aug 1942
Monument: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Last Known Status: Buried
U.S. Awards: Purple Heart Medal
Navy Cross Medal
Comments/Citation
*YOUNG, WALTER XAVIER
First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
1st Parachute Battalion, 1st Marine Division
Date of Action: August 7, 1942
Citation:
The Navy Cross is presented to Walter Xavier Young, First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism as Communications Officer, First Parachute Battalion, First Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Gavutu, Solomon Islands, August 7, 1942. During the extremely dangerous initial landings on Gavutu, First Lieutenant Young, on his own courageous initiative, fearlessly attacked several of the enemy in a single-handed attempt to neutralize a dugout which commanded a portion of the dock and constituted a grave menace to his comrades. Although fully aware of his imminent peril, he determinedly continued his voluntary action until, while effecting a daring entrance, he was fatally wounded by rifle or pistol fire from within the dugout. First Lieutenant Young's heroic spirit of self-sacrifice was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Serial 1113 (July 15, 1943)
Born: at Chicago, Illinois
Home Town: Chicago, Illinois
