Rodger Wilton Young (April 28, 1918 – July 31, 1943) was a United States Army infantryman from Ohio during World War II.

Born in the small town of Tiffin, Ohio, in 1932, Young suffered a sports injury in high school that led to his becoming nearly deaf and blind.

Soon after the United States entered World War II, Young's company was activated as part of the U.S. Army.

The night infiltration course at Fort Moore is named for Young, as is a small arms firing range at Camp Perry.

[2] Looking for ways to earn extra income and thinking that, because of his health issues, he would fail the normal Army medical exam, Young applied to the Ohio National Guard in 1939.

[3] In October 1940, a year after joining the National Guard, Young and his unit were activated for federal service as part of American preparations for World War II.

[2] The commander accepted his request and a week later, on July 31, 1943, Young carried out the actions that led to his posthumous award of the Medal of Honor.

[3] Nine days into the Battle of Munda Point, on July 31, Young was assigned to a 20-man patrol sent out at around 4:00 p.m. to reconnoiter Japanese territory.

[2] Heavy fire from the enemy, who were concealed in a machine gun pit 75 yards (69 m) on higher ground, prevented further forward movement by the patrol.

Another machine gun burst wounded Young a second time, but he continued his advance, drawing the enemy fire away from his squad.

As Young drew closer to the machine gun pit, he began responding with rifle fire and by throwing hand grenades at the nest, wounding or killing most of the soldiers inside.

Young's bold action in closing with this Japanese pillbox and thus diverting its fire, permitted his platoon to disengage itself, without loss, and was responsible for several enemy casualties.

[6] Young's body was transferred to the United States in July 1949 and is now buried in McPherson Cemetery in Clyde, Ohio.

On March 31, 1946, "The Ballad of Rodger Young" was sung by tenor Dennis Day on the Jack Benny Program on the radio.

[11] At the Ohio National Guard Training Site in Camp Perry, there is a small arms firing range named in honor of Young.

[2] In January 1964, Young's story was featured in the 15th episode of the TV historical series The Great Adventure, in which he was portrayed by James MacArthur.