World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Tracy W. Young
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Ponca City, Oklahoma
Honored By
OAMC, ROTC Class of 1943
SERVED IN THE ARMY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS AT OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE AT STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA FROM SEPTEMBER 1940 TO APRIL 5, 1943. SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVED AS A PRIVATE IN THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS WITH THE 1875TH SERVICE UNIT FROM JULY 1942 TO APRIL 5, 1943. INDUCTED AND CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON APRIL 6, 1943. REPORTED TO THE RECEPTION CENTER, FORT SILL, AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA ON APRIL 12, 1943. ASSIGNED TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA FROM JUNE TO SEPTEMBER 1943. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN SEPTEMBER 1943 WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL TO ACCEPT AN APPOINTMENT AS AN OFFICER. GRADUATED AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE INFANTRY IN SEPTEMBER 1943. STAGED AT CAMP STONEMAN, PITTSBURG, CALIFORNIA ON MARCH 16, 1944 UNTIL SAILING OVERSEAS WITH HIS UNIT FROM SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA PORT OF EMBARKATION ON MARCH 24, 1944. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT WITH THE 306TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 77TH INFANTRY 'STATUE OF LIBERTY' DIVISION. SERVED IN HAWAII FROM APRIL 1ST TO JULY 1, 1944, STATIONED AT FORT HASE ON OAHU AND ENGAGED IN JUNGLE AND AMPHIBIOUS WARFARE TRAINING. HIS UNIT LANDED AT AGAT BAY, GUAM ON JULY 23, 1944 AND ATTACKED OUT OF ITS BEACHHEAD PERIMETER AND TOOK BARRIGADE VILLAGE, OVERRUNNING MOUNT BARRIGADA ON AUGUST 4, 1944. THEN TOOK PART IN COMBAT OPERATIONS TO CLEAR THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE ISLAND AND IN MOPPING UP REMAINING RESISTANCE. LANDED ON LEYTE, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON NOVEMBER 23, 1944; ASSAULTED ORMOC ON DECEMBER 7TH AND TOOK IT ON DECEMBER 10, 1944. KILLED IN ACTION ON DECEMBER 11, 1944 ON LEYTE. PARTICIPATED IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC AND LEYTE CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL. AUTHORIZED PERMANENT AWARD OF THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR SERVICE BY HIS UNIT IN THE PHILIPPINES.