United States Army general
Robert Nicholas Young (January 14, 1900 – October 19, 1964) was a
lieutenant general in the
United States Army . He gained prominence in the 1950s as the commander of the
2nd Infantry Division during the
Korean War and as commander of the
Sixth United States Army .
Early life
Young was born on January 14, 1900, in
Washington, D.C. He graduated from the
University of Maryland in 1922 and received his commission as a
second lieutenant of
infantry through the
Reserve Officer Training Corps .
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[2]
[3]
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Early military career
1LT Young as assistant professor of military science for the University of Maryland's R.O.T.C. program.
After receiving his commission, Young served in positions of increasing rank and responsibility throughout the
United States , including
Fort Eustis ,
Virginia ,
Camp Meade ,
Maryland , and
San Juan, Puerto Rico . In the late 1920s and early 1930s, he served as assistant professor of military science in the
R.O.T.C. program at the
University of Maryland .
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In 1933, Young graduated from the Infantry School Officer Course, and completed the Signal School Commanding Officer Course in 1934.
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In the mid-1930s, Young served as an instructor at the
Fort Benning ,
Georgia , Infantry School.
[11] He was a 1938 graduate of the
Command and General Staff College .
[12]
World War II
BG Young as assistant division commander, 3rd Infantry Division, World War II
From 1941 to 1942, Young served as assistant secretary to the General Staff at the
War Department , afterwards advancing to become secretary to the General Staff, where he served until 1943.
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Young was assigned as assistant division commander of the
70th Infantry Division from 1943 to 1944 during its combat service in
Europe . From 1944 to 1945, he continued to serve in Europe as assistant division commander and acting division commander of the
3rd Infantry Division .
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Post-World War II
BG Young as commander of the Military District of Washington with Melba Rose, age 2, daughter of Mrs. Rosie L. Madison, as they view the Silver Star awarded to her father 1LT John W. Madison, who was killed in action in Italy.
Young's service continued after
World War II . In 1945, he succeeded
Charles F. Thompson as commander of the
Military District of Washington , and he remained in this position until 1946.
[19] Young commanded the Army's
Combined Arms Center at
Fort Leavenworth ,
Kansas from 1946 to 1948.
[20] From 1948 to 1950 Young, served in
Hawaii as Chief of Staff for
U.S. Army, Pacific .
[21] From 1950 to 1951, Young was assistant division commander of the
82nd Airborne Division .
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Korean War
From 1951 to 1952, Young commanded the
2nd Infantry Division . He led the division during the
Battle of Heartbreak Ridge .
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Post-Korean War
Young was commander of the
United States Army Infantry School from 1952 to 1953.
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[27] In 1953, Young was named the Army’s Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G-1, where he served until 1955.
[28] Young was appointed commander of the
Sixth United States Army in 1955, and served in this post until his 1957 retirement.
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Awards and decorations
Young's awards included three
Army Distinguished Service Medals , the
Silver Star , the
Legion of Merit , two awards of the
Bronze Star Medal , and the
Purple Heart .
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Retirement and death
In retirement, General Young resided in
Asheville, North Carolina . He died there on October 19, 1964, and was buried in
Arlington National Cemetery , Section 6, Site 5685 RH.
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References
^ World War I Draft Registration Card, Robert Nicholas Young
^ North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909–1975
^
Official U.S. Army Register , published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1954, page 830
^ Home of the Infantry: the History of Fort Benning, by Peggy A. Stelpflug and Richard Hyatt, 2007, page 204
^
List of prominent members, Omicron Delta Kappa honor society, University of Maryland
^
Official U.S. Army Register , published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1956, page 936
^
Reveille, The University of Maryland Yearbook, 1929, page 106
^
Biography of Robert N. Young, Annual Yearbook , published by U.S. Infantry Center and School, 1953
^
Official U.S. Army Register , published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1954, page 830
^
Official U.S. Army Register , published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1956, page 936
^
Biography of Robert N. Young, Annual Yearbook , published by U.S. Infantry Center and School, 1953
^
Official U.S. Army Register , published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1954, page 830
^ The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, by George Catlett Marshall, edited by Larry I. Bland and Sharon Ritenour Stevens, 2003, page 178
^ The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower: Occupation, 1945; The Chief of Staff, by Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1978, Page 37
^
After Action Report, 70th Infantry Division from Date of Activation to 31 January 1945 , published by the U.S. War Department, 1946, page 8
^ History of the Third Infantry Division in World War II, Donald Gilbert Taggart, 1947, Page 290
^ George C. Marshall: Organizer of Victory, 1943–1945, Forest C. Pogue, 1973, Page 62
^
3rd Infantry Division World War II Order of Battle ,
United States Army Center of Military History
^
Magazine article, Reorganization of the War Department and of the Army Field Artillery Journal, page 342, June 1946
^
Biography of Robert N. Young, Annual Yearbook , published by U.S. Infantry Center and School, 1953
^
Biography of Robert N. Young, Annual Yearbook , published by U.S. Infantry Center and School, 1953
^ The second United States Infantry Division in Korea, 1950–51, published by the 2nd Infantry Division, 1954, Volume 1, page 172
^ Home of the Infantry: the History of Fort Benning, by Peggy A. Stelpflug and Richard Hyatt, 2007, page 204
^ The Hill Wars of the Korean Conflict, Paul M. Edwards, 2006, page 119
^
2nd Infantry Division Commanders page ,
United States Army Center of Military History
^ The National Guardsman, Volume 7, 1953, page 12
^ Home of the Infantry: the History of Fort Benning, by Peggy A. Stelpflug and Richard Hyatt, 2007, page 204
^
Newspaper article, Five Army Generals Assigned New Posts; Infantry School Chief to Head Personnel , New York Times, January 1, 1953
^
Newspaper article, E.J. Sparks Confirmed; Senate Backs His Appointment as Envoy to Guatemala , New York Times, June 15, 1955
^ U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps Bulletin, 1957, Volumes 11–13, Page 100
^ Official Congressional Directory, published by U.S. Government Printing Office, 1957, page 435
^
Newspaper article, New 6th Army Chief; Mathewson to Succeed Young in West Coast Command , New York Times, April 23, 1957
^
Official U.S. Army Register , published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1956, page 936
^
Biography of Robert N. Young, Annual Yearbook , published by U.S. Infantry Center and School, 1953
^ Social Security Death Index
^ North Carolina Death Certificates, 1909–1975
^
Newspaper article, Gen. Robert Young of 6th Army Dies; 35-Year Military Career Began in Reserve Unit , New York Times, October 20, 1964
^
Online Nationwide Gravesite Locator
Archived 2019-05-17 at the
Wayback Machine , U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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