As an artillery officer, he took part in the three major conflicts of the 20th century and completed his 36 years career as commanding general of Camp Lejeune.

Upon the arrival of the Henderson at San Francisco a few weeks later, Youngdale was promoted to the rank of captain in January 1942 and participated in the several voyages with troops and supplies to South Pacific.

The main goal of the landing for 4th Marine Division, was to secure the Roi Namur atoll, center of air activity in the Marshall Islands.

[1] Youngale made it ashore without losing any guns, but arrived too late to support Lieutenant Colonel Justice M. Chambers' 3d Battalion, 25th Marines landing on the far side of the lagoon as originally planned.

[5][6] After almost six months of training and preparation for future combat deployment on Maui, 4th Marine Division sailed back to the Pacific area for the Battle of Iwo Jima at the beginning of January 1945.

He exposed himself to the intense and accurate fire and subsequently reorganized and dispersed his group in order to present smaller targets to the enemy and, although several of his men sustained wounds, undoubtedly saved several lives by his action.

He then made a reconnaissance of the designated Battalion position area through heavy mine fields to determine the locations for his firing batteries.

Youngdale was then appointed Instructor-Inspector of 2nd Marine Reserve Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzers) in Los Angeles, California and spent next two years with peacetime service there.

[1] His peacetime duties ended in August 1950, when he was ordered to South Korea as executive officer of 11th Marine Regiment under Colonel James H. Brower.

Youngdale subsequently commanded regimental fire direction center during the landing at Inchon, recapture of Seoul and Chosin Reservoir campaign.

[1][9] At the beginning of January 1951, Youngdale led his regiment to the vicinity of Pohang and coordinated the support fire for 1st Marine Division units during the blocking of communists attacks.

[5][1][9] Youngdale was then transferred to the staff of commander in chief, Pacific Fleet under Admiral Arthur W. Radford, where he served at the headquarters on Hawaii until July 1953.

[1] Following his return stateside in August 1958, Youngdale was ordered to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and attached to the 2nd Marine Division under Major General Joseph C. Burger.

One of his first orders was to review defense plans for Da Nang TAOR and then finished the ongoing search and destroy operations Mameluke Thrust and Allen Brook.

[1][2][13] In mid-August 1968, Viet Cong (VC) began attacking forward Combined Action Platoons and Youngdale quickly recognized this as the 3rd phase of the Tet Offensive and ordered the reinforcing of the sectors which appeared to be most in danger.

Youngdale subsequently launched Operation Maui Peak in order to relieve the siege around Thường Ðức and declared the area secured on October 19.

[1][14] Youngdale then assumed duties as deputy commander of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic under Lieutenant General Frederick E. Leek and spent next two years at the headquarters at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.

His final assignment was the commanding general of Camp Lejeune from June 1971, when he was responsible for the amphibious training of Marine units on the east coast.

They had together two daughters Patricia Jean Chesney and Susan Jane Paulson and one son, Carl A. Youngdale Jr.[2][15] A complete list of the general's medals and decorations include:[5]