He entered West Point in 1878, and graduated 15th in the Class of 1882 and was commissioned in the field artillery.

He then briefly returned to Utah where his marriage to Minerva Richards was performed by Joseph F. Smith.

Young briefly served as a brigadier general in the national guard from 1895 to 1896, and reentered the Army during the Spanish–American War, leading the Utah Light Artillery Battalion in the Philippines.

He was promoted to brigadier general in 1918, and commanded the 65th Field Artillery Brigade, 40th Division, France.

Richard and Minerva were third cousins, since they both descended from Phineas Howe and Susannah Goddard.