World War II Honoree

William F. Young

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New York, New York

Honored By

Richard Young

Relationship

Son

INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES (AUS) ON 21 OCTOBER 1941 AND SENT FOR INFANTRY TRAINING AT FORT JACKSON, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA. ALSO GIVEN INDIVIDUAL TRAINING AND HIS MILITARY OCCUPATION STATUS WAS LISTED AS RECEIVING AND SHIPPING CLERK, 835. THEN IT WAS OFF TO THE OVERSEAS PROCESSING CENTER AT FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY AND THE PORT OF NEW YORK WHERE HE BOARDED A TROOP TRANSPORT SHIP ON 29 APRIL 1942. HIS SHIP SET SAIL FROM THERE WITH SEVEN OTHERS AS PART OF A CONVOY BOUND FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND ICELAND. HE WOULD BE SENT ON TO HIS NEW DUTY ASSIGNMENT IN ENGLAND AND JOIN HIS NEW UNIT, 'ADSEC' (ADVANCED SECTION COMMUNICATIONS ZONE, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS). IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE FIRST ARMY AND GRADUALLY TOOK OVER THE COMMUNICATIONS ZONE ACTIVITIES. WHILE IN ENGLAND, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 422ND QUARTERMASTER LAUNDRY COMPANY, AT LEAST FOR A WHILE AS HIS LARGE UNIT MOVED FORWARD WITH THE ARMIES AND PROVIDED CLOSE SUPPORT. ADSEC ALSO PROVIDED DETAIL PLANNING FOR THE INVASION OF NORMANDY, D-DAY. AS A SERGEANT AT AGE 25, HE LEFT THE SEPARATION CENTER AT FORT DIX AND RETURNED HOME TO THE BRONX, NEW YORK A DECORATED SOLDIER. FOR HIS SERVICE SPANNING MORE THAT 4 YEARS, ON TWO CONTINENTS AND IN 2 THEATERS OF OPERATION, HE WAS AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER SERVICE STAR (FOR NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES-ALSACE, CENTRAL EUROPE AND RHINELAND CAMPAIGNS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY CLASP, NEW YORK STATE MEDAL FOR MERIT WITH 1 SILVER SHIELD, SHARPSHOOTER MARKSMAN BADGE WITH M-1 RIFLE AND CARBINE TABS, HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL PIN AND LOZENGE, 1 HITCH MARK AND SEVEN OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS.