YOUNG, MARVIN R.
S/SGT, U.S. Army
Ector County, Texas

Picture:

Biography:

Young was a squad leader with Company C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th infantry, when a regimental-sized force engaged the reconnaissance mission on Aug.21, 1968. After the 1st Platoon's acting platoon leader was killed, Young assumed command. During an ordered withdrawal, he was providing covering fire when he saw an element of the point squad was pinned down. Running toward their position, he received critical head wounds, yet continued his mission. Remaining with the squad as it fought its way out, Young was seriously wounded in the arm and leg. Young refused assistance as he remained behind to give covering fire until the enemy engulfed his position. Young was born in Alpine and later moved to Odessa with his parents, Roy and Marilyn Young; sister, Margaret Lorraine; and brother, Charles Roy. He lived with the A.R. Edgman family during his high school years. Young graduated from Odessa Permian High School in 1965.

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION

Rank and organization:

Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division.

Place and date:

Near Ben Cui, Republic of Vietnam, 21 August 1968

Entered service at:

Odessa, Texas

Born:

11 May 1947, Alpine, Tx.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Young distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a squad leader with Company C. While conducting a reconnaissance mission in the vicinity of Ben Cui, Company C was suddenly engaged by an estimated regimental-size force of the North Vietnamese Army. During the initial volley of fire the point element of the 1st Platoon was pinned down, sustaining several casualties, and the acting platoon leader was killed. S/Sgt. Young unhesitatingly assumed command of the platoon and immediately began to organize and deploy his men into a defensive position in order to repel the attacking force. As a human wave attack advanced on S/Sgt. Young's platoon, he moved from position to position, encouraging and directing fire on the hostile insurgents while exposing himself to the hail of enemy bullets. After receiving orders to withdraw to a better defensive position, he remained behind to provide covering fire for the withdrawal. Observing that a small element of the point squad was unable to extract itself from its position, and completely disregarding his personal safety, S/Sgt. Young began moving toward their position, firing as he maneuvered. When halfway to their position he sustained a critical head injury, yet he continued his mission and ordered the element to withdraw. Remaining with the squad as it fought its way to the rear, he was twice seriously wounded in the arm and leg. Although his leg was badly shattered, S/Sgt. Young refused assistance that would have slowed the retreat of his comrades, and he ordered them to continue their withdrawal while he provided protective covering fire. With indomitable courage and heroic self_sacrifice, he continued his self-assigned mission until the enemy force engulfed his position. By his gallantry at the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service, S/Sgt. Young has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.