Marvin Rex Young
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Staff Sergeant Marvin Rex Young (11 May 1947 - 21 August 1968) was a U.S. Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Vietnam War.

Marvin Rex Young was born 11 May 1947 in Alpine, TX. He joined the Army from Odessa, TX in 1966. On 21 August 1968, Young was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On that day while on a reconnaissance mission near Ben Cui, Republic of Vietnam, his platoon came under intense enemy fire. After the platoon leader was killed, Young assumed command and directed the unit's defense. When ordered to withdraw, he rescued several men who were pinned down by enemy fire and unable to move; Young suffered fatal wounds in the process.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Ben Cui, Republic of Vietnam, 21 August 1968.

Entered service at: Odessa, TX. Born: 11 May 1947, Alpine, TX.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Young distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a squad leader with Company C. While conducting a reconnaissance mission in the vicinity of Ben Cui, Company C was suddenly engaged by an estimated regimental-size force of the North Vietnamese Army. During the initial volley of fire the point element of the 1st Platoon was pinned down, sustaining several casualties, and the acting platoon leader was killed. S/Sgt. Young unhesitatingly assumed command of the platoon and immediately began to organize and deploy his men into a defensive position in order to repel the attacking force. As a human wave attack advanced on S/Sgt. Young's platoon, he moved from position to position, encouraging and directing fire on the hostile insurgents while exposing himself to the hail of enemy bullets. After receiving orders to withdraw to a better defensive position, he remained behind to provide covering fire for the withdrawal. Observing that a small element of the point squad was unable to extract itself from its position, and completely disregarding his personal safety, S/Sgt. Young began moving toward their position, firing as he maneuvered. When halfway to their position he sustained a critical head injury, yet he continued his mission and ordered the element to withdraw. Remaining with the squad as it fought its way to the rear, he was twice seriously wounded in the arm and leg. Although his leg was badly shattered, S/Sgt. Young refused assistance that would have slowed the retreat of his comrades, and he ordered them to continue their withdrawal while he provided protective covering fire. With indomitable courage and heroic self-sacrifice, he continued his self-assigned mission until the enemy force engulfed his position. By his gallantry at the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service, S/Sgt. Young has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Purple Heart

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The name Marvin Rex Young is inscribed on Panel 47W - Line 24.

Death and Burial

Staff Sergeant Marvin Rex Young was killed in action on 21 August 1968. He is buried at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa, TX.