Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Captain

Unit:

Company A, 255th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division "Blood and Fire", U.S. Army (Company A, 255th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division "Blood and Fire", U.S. Army)

By direction of the President the Distinguished Service Cross is awarded posthumously to Robert S. Young, 01 312 101, Captain, Company A, 255th Infantry Regiment for extraordinary heroism in action on 14 April 1945, near Waldenburg, Germany. When his unit was held up by fire from the strategically located enemy, Captain Young advanced on a machine gun position under covering fire from his scouts and was wounded by a sniper. Undeterred, he continued throwing grenades and eliminated three gunners. He then assaulted a second emplacement which he neutralized, in spite of raking fire. There at the third nest, he crawled into a ditch within 15 yards of the spot from which he threw the final grenade to complete removal of the enemy threat. Captain Young's act of supreme courage opened the way to attainment of the battalion objective and is representative of the finest in heroic achievement. Entered military service from New Mexico.

Posthumously awarded.
Headquarters, U.S. Forces-European Theater, General Orders No. 242 (19 September 1945).