Name: WO1 Mark Douglas Young
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/09/1968 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 20.7
Date of Birth: 09/08/1947
Home City: Sidell, IL
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Flight class: 67-501/67-21
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 58E-003
Short Summary: Shot down leaving hot LZ with Don McNeil S. of DMZ, hit dike trapping both pilots and burned. CC & DG escaped with injuries. Memo
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16784
Service number: W3159247
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Started Tour: 03/14/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Quang Tri Province I Corps.
Additional information about this casualty:
Morning resupply mission south of DMZ, northeast of Dong Ha. Flying between tree lines running north to south. Flew over tree line manned by NVA unit. Heavy fire shot off tailboom - aircraft crashed between NVA position and 1 Cav position - infantry unit under 152 mm artillery fire from North Vietnam across DMZ. Grunts got to crash which was on fire. Pilots dead, rescued crewchief and doorgunner. When hit, Young was flying, he stated "I'm hit". McNeil took control. Ship came apart. That night grunts set up an ambush between the two treelines near crash site. Killed 35 NVA and captured 1 NVA 2Lt. Young loved Sonny & Cher albums.
From Bob Witt, 1992
The previous month, Mark, on his very first combat mission in Vietnam, Apr 4, 1968, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by MG John J. Tolson, CG, 1st Cavalry Division, for the medical evacuation of several serious wounded 1st Cav troops of 2 Bn 7th Cav commanded by LTC Roscoe Robinson during the relief of Marine base at Khe Sanh. The following is the narrative of the award for which both Mark and I received the DFC:
1) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Warrant Officer Stephen L. Davidson (WO1 Mark D. Young) for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. Warrant Officer Davidson (Young) distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 4 April 1968 while serving as Aircraft Commander of the command and control helicopter during a combat operation near Khe Sanh, Republic of Vietnam. When ground fighting resulted in several serious casualties who were in dire need of medical attention, medical evacuation helicopters were requested. Arriving at the scene, he made three attempts to land, but came under intense fire each time and received hits which required it to return to base. At this time, Warrant Officer Davidson (Young) piloted the command control helicopter down through the intense ground fire completely disregarding his personal safety. Upon landing, the casualties were quickly loaded aboard and Warrant Officer Davidson (Young) again skillfully piloted the aircraft while completely exposed to the intense machine gun and automatic weapons fire. His outstanding flying ability and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Protestant - no denominational preference
Burial information: WOODLAWN CEMETERY, INDIANOLA, IL
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 05/07/2012
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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