More detail on this person: LTC (RET) George J
Young died May 9, 2003 after a lengthy courageous
battle against COPD.
Born in Rochester, NY on July 28, 1927 to George
and Hannah Bovill Young, George lived in Geneseo,
NY until joining the US Army in 1945. For the next
seven years George served as an enlisted man in
Germany and Okinawa, Japan. Recognized for his
leadership ability, George was encouraged to
attend Officers Career School (Class 11A) in April
1952 where he made the tongue in cheek statement
"I am the best damned candidate here." Continuing
his illustrious military growth, George completed
Airborne and Jumpmaster School, Fixed Wing
Flight Training, Instrument/Rotary Wing
Qualification, Aviation Staff Officer, Aviation
Safety Officer and Instrument Flight Examiners
Course. He was rated an Army Aviator in 1957 and
had tours at Ft Hood, TX, Ft. Carson, CO, Ft
Rucker, AL and Korea with his command positions
starting while stationed there.
George was assigned to Saigon, Vietnam in 1963
with HQ 45th Trans. Battalion, detached for duty
with MACV J-3 and departed Saigon in Feb. 1963
for Vinh Long, Vietnam where he was assigned the
duty of Commanding Officer of the 114th Air Mobil
Company. During his command the unit
consistently flew more hours than similar
companies assigned to the Republic of South
Vietnam. The unit enjoyed a very high availability
rate and was responsible for developing and
initiating the consolidated maintenance system,
which led to still higher availability rates, and
more crew rest for the assigned crew chiefs and
gunners. George instituted and witnessed the
morale raising project called the "Street of
Flags" wherein the individual wrote his governor
or congressman requesting a state flag to fly at
this remote outpost. The project was finally
completed in 1965, when the final flag was
received and raised to the top of its flagpole.
George stated "I was proud to be associated with
such a fine group of men and was very sad to
depart in December 1964 for a new assignment in
the United States."
In January 1965 he was assigned to HQ First US
Army, Governors Island (Fort Jay) NY. In August he
was assigned to 10th Aviation Group, Fort Benning,
GA to form the 282nd Aviation Company for
subsequent assignment and shipment to Vietnam.
February 1966 George received orders to the 25th
Aviation Battalion, 25th Infantry Division to join
the division in Hawaii. On arrival he was alerted
to proceed to Saigon for further assignment as
Aviation Officer of the Brigade Task Force, 25th
Infantry Division, already established at Cu Chi,
northwest of Saigon. He arrived in Cu Chi
mid-March and departing the 25th in March 1967.
George was then assigned to Aviation School
Element, US Army Aviation School, Hunter Army
Airfield, Savannah GA. In September 1968 he was
assigned to Flight Detachment, HQ US Army
Missile Command, ENT AFB, Colorado Springs,
CO.
George retired from the US Army at Colorado
Springs, CO on 1 July 1972 with over 27 years of
service. He was awarded the following
Distinguished Military Medals; The National
Defense service medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air
Medal w/20 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying
Cross, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ 10 Year
Device, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Legion of Merit
w/ 10 Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal, Meritorious Unit
Commendation, Vietnam Service Medal w/5 Bronze
Service Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60
device, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/Palm.
George worked for Bell Helicopter from 1973-79,
serving in Iran as an Aviation Manager, Advisory
and Instructor. He was an instructor at Ft Rucker,
AL to US and foreign military aviation students
until 1987 and soon after retired to San Antonio,
TX.
George was always so devoted to the men of the
114th Aviation Co. that he organized an
Association for 114th veterans that served in
Vietnam and Panama. The Association has grown
and flourished under his guidance, with his desire
being for it to continue growing in membership and
activity. Plans are under way to have George's
ashes inurned with full military honors at
Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, VA during the
114th Aviation Co. Association Reunion the first
of August.
LTC George J Young is survived by his devoted
friend and wife Ginger Shannon-Young, their four
children; Dale Young of Long Beach, CA, David
Young of Villa Rica, GA, L.D. Shannon III of
Bealeton, VA, Laura Shannon-McDaniel of
Lynchburg, VA, Brother, Robert Young of
Washington, NC, Uncle, Thomas Bovill of Geneseo,
NY and ten grandchildren.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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