Cassin Young

Infobox Military Person
name= Cassin Young
born= birth date|1894|3|6
died= death date and age|1942|11|13|1894|3|6
placeofbirth= Washington, D.C.
placeofdeath= killed in action in Guadalcanal
placeofburial=


caption= Captain Cassin Young, USN
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Navy
serviceyears=
rank= Captain
commands=
unit=
battles= World War II
awards= Medal of Honor Navy Cross
laterwork=

Cassin Young (March 6, 1894 – November 13, 1942) was a Captain in the United States Navy who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Biography

Young was born in Washington, D.C., on March 6, 1894. After graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy on June 3, 1916, he served on the battleship "Connecticut" (BB-18) into 1919, then spent several years in submarines. During that period, he commanded the submarines "R-23" and "R-2". During the mid and late 1920s, he served in Naval Communications on the staff of Commander Submarine Divisions, Battle Fleet, and at the Naval Academy.

During 1931–33, Lieutenant Commander Young served on the battleship "New York" (BB-34). He was subsequently awarded command of the destroyer "Evans" (DD-78) and was assigned to the Eleventh Naval District in 1935–37. After promotion to the rank of Commander, he commanded Submarine Division Seven and was stationed at Naval Submarine Base New London, in Groton, Connecticut.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he was commanding officer of the repair ship "Vestal" (AR-4), which was badly damaged by enemy bombs and the explosion of the battleship "Arizona" (BB-39). Commander Young rapidly organized offensive action, personally taking charge of one of "Vestal"s antiaircraft guns. When "Arizona"'s forward magazine exploded, the blast blew Young overboard. Although stunned, he was determined to save his ship by getting her away from the blazing "Arizona". Swimming back to "Vestal", which was already damaged and about to be further damaged, Young got her underway and beached her, thus ensuring her later salvage. His heroism was recognized with the Medal of Honor.

Promoted to Captain in February 1942, he later was given command of the heavy cruiser "San Francisco" (CA-38). In the Solomon Islands campaign, Captain Young commanded "San Francisco" in the Battle of Cape Esperance and the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal with great distinction. On November 13, 1942, during the latter battle, he guided his ship in action with a superior Japanese force and was killed by enemy shells while closely engaging the battleship "Hiei". Captain Young was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the campaign and "San Francisco" received the Presidential Unit Citation.

Medal of Honor citation

Medal of Honor citation:

:For distinguished conduct in action, outstanding heroism and utter disregard of his own safety, above and beyond the call of duty, as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Vestal, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by enemy Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. Commander Young proceeded to the bridge and later took personal command of the 3-inch antiaircraft gun. When blown overboard by the blast of the forward magazine explosion of the U.S.S. Arizona, to which the U.S.S. Vestal was moored, he swam back to his ship. The entire forward part of the U.S.S. Arizona was a blazing inferno with oil afire on the water between the two ships; as a result of several bomb hits, the U.S.S. Vestal was afire in several places, was settling and taking on a list. Despite severe enemy bombing and strafing at the time, and his shocking experience of having been blown overboard, Commander Young, with extreme coolness and calmness, moved his ship to an anchorage distant from the U.S.S. Arizona, and subsequently beached the U.S.S. Vestal upon determining that such action was required to save his ship.

Namesake

In 1943, the destroyer USS "Cassin Young" (DD-793) was named in his honor. This famous destroyer has been restored and is now berthed at the Boston National Historic Park near the USS Constitution.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients

References

* [http://history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-xz/c-young.htm history.navy.mil/photos: Biography of Cassin Young]
* [http://history.navy.mil/danfs/c4/cassin_young.htm history.navy.mil/danfs: Biography of Cassin Young]

Persondata
NAME= Young, Cassin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= March 6, 1894
PLACE OF BIRTH= Washington, D.C.
DATE OF DEATH= November 13, 1942
PLACE OF DEATH= KIA in Guadalcanal