World War II Honoree

Robert L. Young, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

David City, Nebraska

Honored By

Phyllis Carter Young

Relationship

Wife

HE ENLISTED AND WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY AIR FORCE ON JUNE 10, 1943 AT FORT CROOK, NEBRASKA. HE ATTENDED AERIAL GUNNERY SCHOOL AT HARLINGEN, TEXAS AND GRADUATED AN AERIAL GUNNER. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 8TH ARMY AIR FORCE, 389TH BOMBER GROUP AND DEPARTED ON JUNE 24, 1944 FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS. HIS UNIT WAS PERMANENTLY BASED AT THE HETHEL AIR BASE IN ENGLAND. HE FLEW 32 MISSIONS AS AN AERIAL GUNNER ON A B-24 LIBERATOR A 4-ENGINE HEAVY BOMBER AND BOMBED STRATEGIC TARGETS AT COLOGNE, BRUNSWICK, DUSSELDORF AND NUMEROUS OTHER TARGETS AT NORMANDY, RHINELAND AND ARDENNES REGIONS. HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. ON JANUARY 14, 1945. HE WAS AWARDED THE MANY RIBBONS AND COMMENDATIONS FOR HIS SERVICE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 4168TH ARMY AIR FORCE BASE IN SIOUX CITY, IOWA WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS HONORABLE DISCHARGE WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT ON OCTOBER 19, 1945 HAVING SERVED 2 YEARS 3 MONTHS AND 25 DAYS OF WHICH 6 MONTHS AND 30 DAYS WERE OVERSEAS DUTY.