In Memory of U.S. Army Technician Fifth Grade
Donald Young
Volga, South Dakota
Brookings County
October 11, 1919 – February 20, 1943
Killed in Action in North Africa
Donald Young was born at Giltner, Nebraska, on October 11, 1919, the son of W. Herbert Young. Donald went to high school at Sinai, South Dakota, but graduated from Volga High School in May of 1939.
Before joining the service, Donald was employed as a plasterer in a defense housing project in Detroit, Michigan.
On August 26, 1941, Donald joined the Army and was trained at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and at a camp in southern California. He was sent overseas and saw service in Ireland and then was transferred to the African theater of operations.
On February 20, 1943, while serving in Tunisia, T5 Donald Young was killed in action. He earned the Bronze Star for the following reasons:
For heroic action in combat on February 20, 1943 at Tunisia. The machine-gun position occupied by Corporal Young was under constant enemy machine-gun and artillery fire, especially after the enemy had gained foothills giving him direct observation. When his company was ordered to withdraw, Corporal Young continued to operate his weapon to cover the withdrawal. The enemy made an all-out effort to eliminate the gun as it was directly in their line of advance. Corporal Young was killed beside the gun from a burst of enemy machine-gun fire. His courage and valor under fire were a credit to the Corps of Engineers and in accord with the highest traditions of the military service.
T-5 Donald Young was the first man from Volga to be killed in action in WW II. He earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal, posthumously. He was only twenty-three years old at the time of his death.
This entry was respectfully submitted by Megan Schweitzer, 8th Grade West, Spearfish Middle School, Spearfish, South Dakota, May 12, 1999. Information for this entry was provided by George and Evelyn Norby and Howard Lee of Volga.
