Rodger Wilton Young
Medal of Honor recipient
Died when: 25 years 94 days (303 months)Star Sign: Taurus
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, Young 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 while helping his platoon withdraw from a Japanese ambush.
For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.In the years after Young's death, his legacy was commemorated in many works.
Songwriter Frank Loesser penned The Ballad of Rodger Young, a song which praises the courage of American infantrymen as represented by Young.
The night infiltration course at Fort Benning is named for Young, as is a small arms firing range at Camp Perry.
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