Gerald O. Young

Gerald Orren Young (May 19, 1930 – June 6, 1990) was a United States Air Force officer and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Early life Gerald Young was born on May 19, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois.

Military career He joined the Navy as an aviation technician's mate and served from 1947 to 1952, and from 1955 to 1956, when he transferred to the Air Force. He completed the Aviation Cadet Training Program and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant on January 18, 1958 at Reese Air Force Base, Texas.

After completion of helicopter training, he was assigned to the Marshall Islands from July to December 1958, where he took part in missions in support of the nuclear weapon tests. From December 1958 to January 1960, he served in Japan before being deployed to the 566th Strategic Missile Squadron at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.

Young served in the 96th Strategic Aerospace Wing at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, from June 1962 until November 1963. He was next sent to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, where he remained until October 1965. From October 1965 until August 1967, Young was assigned to the 381st Strategic Missile Wing at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. The para-rescueman, Maysey, was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross.

Post war

Following his return to the US and subsequent hospitalisation for three months, Young was assigned to the 3637th Flying Training Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, serving from February 1968 to August 1969. From August 1969 to February 1971, he was assigned to helicopter units in Peterson Field in Colorado and at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington.

He next attended the Defense Language Institute at Monterey and in December 1972, he was sent to Panama to help establish a rescue program for the Panamanian Air Force. Following duty in Panama, Young completed a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Maryland. He then served as air attache to Colombia, followed by role of assistant chief for combat plans of the 507th Tactical Air Control Center Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, before his retirement from the Air Force on June 30, 1980, at the rank of lieutenant colonel.