World War II Honoree

Clair R. Young

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Columbia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Mitchell L. Young

Relationship

Son

INDUCTED IN THE U.S. ARMY ON JANUARY 16, 1943 AT THE AGE OF 19. JULY 1943, ASSIGNED TO A MILITARY POLICE COMPANY AND LEFT WITH THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE FOR ENGLAND ABOARD THE QUEEN MARY. DUE TO HEAVY AIR ATTACKS ON PORT CITIES, THE QUEEN MARY ANCHORED IN A FIORD OFF OF THE COAST OF SCOTLAND. FERRIED TO RAIL LINE AND TRANSPORTED TO AIR BASE NEAR TAUNTON, ENGLAND. WORKED WITH U.S. NAVY AS SHORE PATROLS WHILE THE NAVY PATROLLED THE ENGLISH CHANNEL FOR SUBMARINES. NEXT, WENT ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL TO OMAHA BEACH, FRANCE TO BELGIUM AND FINALLY TO GERMANY WHERE THEY LIVED IN 'SLIT-TRENCHES' WHILE PROVIDING TRAFFIC CONTROL ON THE RED BALL HIGHWAY WHICH WAS THE MAIN SUPPLY LINE FROM THE BEACHES TO THE FRONT. FINALLY ARRIVED IN GERMANY IN THE AREA KNOWN AS KAISERSLAUTERN, WHICH WAS BEST KNOWN AS THE LAUNCHING POINT OF THE GERMAN V-2 ROCKETS. WITH THE DECISION OF PRESIDENT TRUMAN TO DROP THE ATOMIC BOMB ON JAPAN, ASSIGNMENT ORDERS WERE CHANGED FROM SHIPPING OUT TO THE PACIFIC TO ROTATING HOME. RETURNED HOME ABOARD THE ITALIAN SHIP 'VULCANIA' AND WAS DISCHARGED IN MID-DECEMBER 1945.