The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
YOUNG, CASSIN
Rank and Organization: Commander, U.S. Navy. Born:
6 March 1894, Washington, D.C. Appointed From: Wisconsin. Other Navy Award:
Navy Cross.
Citation:
For distinguished conduct in action, outstanding heroism and utter disregard of his own
safety, above and beyond the call of duty, as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Vestal,
during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by enemy Japanese
forces on 7 December 1941. Comdr. Young proceeded to the bridge and later took personal
command of the 3-inch antiaircraft gun. When blown overboard by the blast of the forward
magazine explosion of the U.S.S. Arizona, to which the U.S.S. Vestal was moored, he swam
back to his ship. The entire forward part of the U.S.S. Arizona was a blazing inferno with
oil afire on the water between the 2 ships; as a result of several bomb hits, the U.S.S.
Vestal was afire in several places, was settling and taking on a list. Despite severe
enemy bombing and strafing at the time, and his shocking experience of having been blown
overboard, Comdr. Young, with extreme coolness and calmness, moved his ship to an
anchorage distant from the U.S.S. Arizona, and subsequently beached the U.S.S. Vestal upon
determining that such action was required to save his ship.
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