Young received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor.

[1] Young's medal was won for his heroism in the Battle of the Wilderness during the Overland Campaign in Virginia on May 6, 1864.

After the war, he worked as a policeman in Jamestown for 30 years.

[1][2] The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private James Marvin Young, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 6 May 1864, while serving with Company B, 72d New York Infantry, in action during the Wilderness Campaign, Virginia.

Private Young took the wounded man upon his back and, under fire, carried him within the Union lines.