March 9, 2007
MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT ROBERT HARLEY YOUNG, PRIVIATE U.S.ARMY
Private First Class Robert Harley Young, U.S. Army, Company E, 8th
Cavalry Regiment, 1st Calvary Division was killed in
action on November 5, 1950. He was North of Kaesong, Korea on October
9, 1950. He entered the service at Vallejo, California. He was born
in Oroville, March 4, 1929.
G.O. No.65,
2 August 1951.
Citation:
Pfc. Young distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
above and beyond the call of duty in action. His company, spearheading
a battalion drive deep in enemy territory, suddenly came under a
devastating barrage of enemy mortar and automatic weapons crossfire
which inflicted heavy casualties among his comrades and wounded
him in the face and shoulder. Refusing to be evacuated, Pfc. Young
remained in position and continued to fire at the enemy until wounded
a second time. As he awaited first aid near the company command
post the enemy attempted an enveloping movement. Disregarding medical
treatment he took an exposed position and firing with deadly accuracy
killed 5 of the enemy. During this action he was again hit by hostile
fire which knocked him to the ground and destroyed his helmet. Later
when supporting tanks moved forward, Pfc. Young, his wounds still
unattended, directed tank fire which destroyed 3 enemy gun positions
and enabled the company to advance. Wounded again by an enemy mortar
burst, and while aiding several of his injured comrades, he demanded
that all other be evacuated first. Throughout the course of this
action the leadership and combative instinct displayed by Pfc. Young
exerted a profound influence on the conduct of the company. His
aggressive example affected the whole course of the action and was
responsible for its success. Pfc. Young’s dauntless courage and
intrepidity reflect the highest credit upon himself and uphold the
esteemed traditions of the U. S. Army.
Oroville Mercury Register June 16, 1951
Oroville Native, Killed In Korea, To Be Honored
A former Oroville resident will be accorded the country’s highest
honor next Thursday when he is awarded the congressional Medal of
Honor posthumously. Pfc. Robert H. Young, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin
D. Young, now of Vallejo, who was killed during the Korean fighting,
was born in Oroville and attended grade school in Chico, before
moving to Solano County. Details of his bravery in combat were released
by another Korean veteran who said that Young was wounded three
times before he suffered a fourth wound from which he died. He first
suffered wounds from mortar fragments and continued to fire on the
advancing enemy. He was wounded again and while at the aid station
the Reds attacked again. Young immediately dashed into the open,
killing five Red soldiers. Although hit again he helped remove the
injured when he was hit for the fourth time. Young was born here
March 4, 1929. His parents will be flown to Washington to receive
the medal from Gen. Omar Bradley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff.
Stu’s Notes: I woke up on Feb. 28, 2007, 1:40am, picked up an
old Mercury Register out of the 1951 box, went through all six pages.
Much to my surprise, I caught the headline Oroville Native Killed
In Korea which was on the back page.. He also went to school in
Chico. Bob Hewitt, in the summer of 2002, told me about Robert Harley
Young. I ran the first article of this column in the summer of 2002,
one of my first stories. For years I wondered what happened to Robert
in between the time he was born and moved to Vallejo. Now we know
a little bit more about an Oroville, and rightfully, so Chico Hero.
Kathleen Hillman, who has done wonders for me in the past, is helping
me find more about Robert’s life in Chico. Most cities in America
that have such strong ties to Medal of Honor Recipients have a memorial
in their honor. Seems Robert was truly forgotten here. You can read
more about Robert on our web site.
Our Memorial is really coming together now that we have taken
out Escrow on the remaining two houses. This will allow us to build
a beautiful park and also create much needed parking for the Veterans
Memorial Hall, the Monday Club, Nature Center and the trail walkers.
You can have a picnic eating those delicious hamburgers and fries
from John’s Boss Burger.
The soldiers in Korea fought so hard under very, very hard conditions
and for you young readers remember the war was started by North
Korea. Our men and women gave there “all” to protect the South Koreans
who to this day benefit from their sacrifices as does all of the
Free World.