Robert Nicholas Young
Encyclopedia
Robert Nicholas Young was a Lieutenant General
in the United States Army
. He gained prominence in the 1950s as the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean War
and as commander of the Sixth United States Army.
in 1922 and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry
through the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
, including Fort Eustis, Virginia
, Camp Meade, Maryland
, and San Juan, Puerto Rico
. In the late 1920s and early 1930s he served as assistant professor of military science in the R.O.T.C. program at the University of Maryland
.
In 1933 Young graduated from the Infantry School Officer Course, and he completed the Signal School Commanding Officer Course in 1934.
In the mid 1930s Young served as an instructor at the Fort Benning
, Georgia
Infantry School.
Young was a 1938 graduate of the Command and General Staff College
.
, afterwards advancing to become secretary to the General Staff, where he served until 1943.
Young was assigned as assistant division commander of the 70th Infantry Division from 1943 to 1944 during its combat in Europe
. From 1944 to 1945 he continued to serve in Europe as assistant division commander and acting division commander of the 3rd Infantry Division.
. From 1945 to 1946 he served as commander of the Military District of Washington
.
Young commanded the Army's Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth
, Kansas
from 1946 to 1948.
From 1948 to 1950 Young served in Hawaii
as Chief of Staff for U.S. Army, Pacific.
From 1950 to 1951 Young was assistant division commander of the 82nd Airborne Division.
.
from 1952 to 1953.
In 1953 Young was named the Army’s Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G-1, where he served until 1955.
Young was appointed commander of the Sixth United States Army in 1955, and served in this post until his 1957 retirement.
, the Silver Star
, the Legion of Merit
, two awards of the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart
.
. He died there on October 19, 1964, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
, Section 6, Site 5685 RH.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He gained prominence in the 1950s as the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and as commander of the Sixth United States Army.
Early life
Young was born on January 14, 1900 in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
in 1922 and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
through the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Start of military career
After receiving his commission Young served in positions of increasing rank and responsibility throughout the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, including Fort Eustis, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Camp Meade, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, and San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. In the late 1920s and early 1930s he served as assistant professor of military science in the R.O.T.C. program at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
.
In 1933 Young graduated from the Infantry School Officer Course, and he completed the Signal School Commanding Officer Course in 1934.
In the mid 1930s Young served as an instructor at the Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
Infantry School.
Young was a 1938 graduate of the Command and General Staff College
Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
.
World War II
From 1941 to 1942 Young served as assistant secretary to the General Staff at the War DepartmentUnited States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
, afterwards advancing to become secretary to the General Staff, where he served until 1943.
Young was assigned as assistant division commander of the 70th Infantry Division from 1943 to 1944 during its combat in Europe
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
. From 1944 to 1945 he continued to serve in Europe as assistant division commander and acting division commander of the 3rd Infantry Division.
Post World War II
General Young’s service continued after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. From 1945 to 1946 he served as commander of the Military District of Washington
Military District of Washington
The United States Army Military District of Washington is one of nineteen major commands of the United States Army. Its headquarters are located at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C...
.
Young commanded the Army's Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
from 1946 to 1948.
From 1948 to 1950 Young served in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
as Chief of Staff for U.S. Army, Pacific.
From 1950 to 1951 Young was assistant division commander of the 82nd Airborne Division.
Korean War
From 1951 to 1952 Young served as commander of the 2nd Infantry Division. He was commander of the division during the Battle of Heartbreak RidgeBattle of Heartbreak Ridge
The Battle of Heartbreak Ridge , also known as the Battle of Wendengli , was a month-long battle in the Korean War fought between September 13 and October 15, 1951...
.
Post Korean War
Young was commander of the United States Army Infantry SchoolUnited States Army Infantry School
The United States Army Infantry School is located in Fort Benning, Georgia. It is made up of the following components:*192d Infantry Brigade...
from 1952 to 1953.
In 1953 Young was named the Army’s Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G-1, where he served until 1955.
Young was appointed commander of the Sixth United States Army in 1955, and served in this post until his 1957 retirement.
Awards and decorations
General Young’s awards included three Distinguished Service MedalsDistinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
, the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, two awards of the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
.
Retirement and death
In retirement General Young resided in Asheville, North CarolinaAsheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
. He died there on October 19, 1964, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
, Section 6, Site 5685 RH.