The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*YOUNG, RODGER W.
Rank and Organization: Private, U.S. Army, 148th
Infantry, 37th Infantry Division. Place and Date On New Georgia, Solomon Islands,
31 July 1943. Entered Service at: Clyde, Ohio. Birth: Tiffin, Ohio. G.O.
No.: 3, 6 January 1944.
Citation:
On 31 July 1943, the infantry company of which Pvt. Young was a member, was ordered to
make a limited withdrawal from the battle line in order to adjust the battalion's position
for the night. At this time, Pvt. Young's platoon was engaged with the enemy in a dense
jungle where observation was very limited. The platoon suddenly was pinned down by intense
fire from a Japanese machinegun concealed on higher ground only 75 yards away. The initial
burst wounded Pvt. Young. As the platoon started to obey the order to withdraw, Pvt. Young
called out that he could see the enemy emplacement, whereupon he started creeping toward
it. Another burst from the machinegun wounded him the second time. Despite the wounds, he
continued his heroic advance, attracting enemy fire and answering with rifle fire. When he
was close enough to his objective, he began throwing handgrenades, and while doing so was
hit again and killed. Pvt. Young's bold action in closing with this Japanese pillbox and
thus diverting its fire, permitted his platoon to disengage itself, without loss, and was
responsible for several enemy casualties.
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