Changes

== Military Career ==

== Military Career ==

In 1938 he joined the Ohio National Guard. At the time he joined, he was only 5'2" and weighed 125 pounds. He trained at Camp Shelby, [[Mississippi]] and Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, [[Pennsylvania]], where he served as a instructor of a rifle range, and won marksmanship medals. He was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant and was appointed a squad leader, all while hiding the severity of the effects from his high school head injury.

In 1938 he joined the Ohio National Guard. At the time he joined, he was only 5'2" and weighed 125 pounds. He trained at Camp Shelby, [[Mississippi]] and Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, [[Pennsylvania]], where he served as a instructor of a rifle range, and won marksmanship medals. He was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant and was appointed a squad leader, all while hiding the severity of the effects from his high school head injury.

Upon America's entry into World War 2, he was deployed to the Pacific Theater, where he first went to the Fiji and Solomon Islands after their liberation. While on the islands, awaiting deployment to Guadalcanal, Young trained his men to the best of his abilities. He eventually realized his previous injury might cause problems in the chain of command, and possibly result in the death of his men. He decided to voluntarily ask for a demotion to the rank of private. This selfless action was at first thought to be an act of cowardice by his CO, but they later clarified it with each other.

Upon America's entry into World War 2, he was deployed to the Pacific Theater, where he first went to the Fiji and Solomon Islands after their liberation. While on the islands, awaiting deployment to Guadalcanal, Young trained his men to the best of his abilities. He eventually realized his previous injury might cause problems in the chain of command, and possibly result in the death of his men. He decided to voluntarily ask for a demotion to the rank of private. This selfless action was at first thought to be an act of cowardice by his CO, but they later clarified it with each other.

Rodger Young took part in [[Operation Cartwheel]] and was among those tasked with capturing and holding the airstrip at Munda, New Georgia. During a patrol, Young's platoon, under the command of Sergeant Walter Rigby, was ambushed by a hidden Japanese machine-gun nest. The platoon was pinned down and had no way to either effectively retreat or advance. After several people were wounded, Young crawled toward the machine-gun nest, suffering multiple wounds as he did so, including some immobilizing of one of his arms. Despite his many wounds, he continued his advance and eventually reached within fifteen feet of the enemy fortification. He then armed a grenade, using one arm and his teeth to pull the pin. He stood up, facing the hail of enemy bullets, and threw the grenade, which destroyed the fortification. The enemy shot him a third time, killing him.

Rodger Young took part in [[Operation Cartwheel]] and was among those tasked with capturing and holding the airstrip at Munda, New Georgia, Solomon Islands. During a patrol, Young's platoon, under the command of Sergeant Walter Rigby, was ambushed by a hidden Japanese machine-gun nest. The platoon was pinned down and had no way to either effectively retreat or advance. After several people were wounded, Young crawled toward the machine-gun nest, suffering multiple wounds as he did so, including some immobilizing of one of his arms. Despite his many wounds, he continued his advance and eventually reached within fifteen feet of the enemy fortification. He then armed a grenade, using one arm and his teeth to pull the pin. He stood up, facing the hail of enemy bullets, and threw the grenade, which destroyed the fortification. The enemy shot him a third time, killing him.

Rodger Young managed to save fifteen of the twenty man patrol, at the cost of his own life .

Rodger Young managed to save fifteen of the twenty man patrol, at the cost of his own life .

== Medal of Honor ==

== Medal of Honor ==