[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 54 (Monday, April 16, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2316-S2318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. MARTIN YOUNG

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of a devoted and 
loyal serviceman from the United

[[Page S2317]]

State Navy: Mr. Martin Young of London, KY. Martin enlisted in the Navy 
on September 22, 1942, when he was 19 years old. His brother was in the 
Army, so Martin decided to go a different route. He knew that he would 
have to leave home, but what he didn't know is that he was going to 
explore a variety of foreign locales and cross the Atlantic Ocean 14 
times.
  Up until his enlistment in the Navy, Martin had lived in Perry 
County, KY, his entire life. He was first sent to basic training at 
Great Lakes Training Center in Illinois. After basic training, Mr. 
Young decided he would attend gunnery school in San Francisco Bay, CA.
  After his 6-week stint in gunnery school, Martin was finally prepared 
to take to the high seas. He was assigned to the Joseph Gale, a supply 
ship that carried ammunition and supplies as well as airplanes. During 
his first deployment on a ship, Mr. Young remembers that he didn't see 
land for 32 long days.
  While aboard the Joseph Gale, Mr. Young traveled through New Guinea 
and the Loyalty Islands in the South Pacific; Tocapilla, Chili in South 
America; the West Indies; and Cuba, all before an emergency port in St. 
Albans, NY. The ship's bow was badly damaged by a torpedo from a German 
submarine and the crew had no choice but to stop for repairs on dry 
land.
  Once in New York, Mr. Young returned to work on the tanker SS 
Manassas, a ship that hauled fuel to England. He would go on to make 
the journey 14 times while serving on that ship. Looking back, Mr. 
Young remembers the tension amidst the crew on the Manassas during the 
French Invasion. Although not involved in the attack, the ship was in 
the English Channel, and all members had to constantly be on alert, 
ready at a moment's notice to enter the fight.
  Once Mr. Young returned to the States, he was given a 32-day furlough 
in which he and some Navy buddies hitchhiked from San Francisco to St. 
Louis before finally taking a bus to his eastern Kentucky home. During 
his leave the war ended, and Mr. Young returned to the Navy without the 
threat of combat looming over him.
  Although the war was over, Mr. Young still had time in the Navy to 
complete, so when he heard about an opening in the Naval Barber Shop, 
he applied. He got the job, and cut hair during the days while 
attending barber school in the evenings. He enjoyed it so much that 
when he returned to Perry County on August 8, 1946, he continued to 
wield the scissors in the Commonwealth.
  The Navy offered Martin Young the journey of a lifetime. He traveled 
around the world more than once and had the opportunity to port in 
breathtaking and beautiful locations on several continents.
  Now retired, Martin Young enjoys the finer things in life, such as 
spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-
grandchildren. Although he has retired from cutting hair, he still uses 
his hands to make woodcrafts and play several different musical 
instruments. While Martin would probably say the Navy has given him so 
much, today I wish to recognize him and say that it is he who has given 
us so much. Martin Young's service to his country during World War II 
is something that each and every American to this day should be truly 
grateful for.
  An article was recently published in London, KY's local newspaper 
magazine, the Sentinel-Echo: Silver Edition. The article highlighted 
the many achievements made by Martin Young throughout his eventful 
lifetime.
  At this time, I wish to invite my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to 
join me in commemorating Mr. Martin Young and his dedication to our 
great Nation, and I ask unanimous consent that said article be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to appear in the 
Record as follows:

          [From the Sentinel-Echo: Silver Edition, Nov. 2011]

                         Back on His Home Land

                            (By Sue Minton)

       Martin Young, 89, a member of what has become known as 
     ``America's Greatest Generation,'' enlisted in the Navy on 
     Sept. 22, 1942. In the Spring of '42, Young graduated from 
     high school, and that fall the 19-year-old ventured forth on 
     a journey that would take him across the Atlantic 14 times.
       He traveled from his home in Perry County to Louisville to 
     be processed, examined and sworn in. ``My brother was in the 
     Army, so I decided on the Navy,'' Young said.
       Following basic training at Great Lakes Training Center in 
     Illinois, Young chose gunnery school over submarine duty and 
     was transferred to Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay, 
     Calif. ``We trained on three guns, the 20-millimeter, 5-inch 
     38, and 3-inch 50.'' After completing six weeks of gunnery 
     school, Young was assigned to U.S. Navy Gunner Armed Guard 
     Unit.
       After the gun crew assignment, Young and his comrades 
     departed for Portland, Ore., to begin their first sea duty. 
     They boarded the Joseph Gale, a supply ship that carried a 
     cargo of ammunition and supplies as well as airplanes. This 
     voyage also included a training trip along the west coast, 
     down to San Francisco and then across the Pacific Ocean. 
     ``For 32 days I did not see land,'' Young recalls.
       I wanted to be out there,'' Young said. ``But I got seasick 
     on the first ship.'' He remembers a gunner mate telling him 
     he had a sure cure for seasickness. ``They called us all 
     Mack,'' he said. ``He said to me, `Mack, go lay down under a 
     big shade tree,' but where would you find a shade tree out in 
     the ocean?''
       The Joseph Gale and crew members sailed to the South 
     Pacific and dropped off supplies at various ports New 
     Caledonia, Loyalty Islands, Solomon Island, and New Guinea.
       After crossing the Pacific, Young and his shipmates 
     returned to South America Antofagasta and Tocopilla, Chili,'' 
     he said.
       From South America, the crew sailed back to the States, 
     docking in Charleston, S.C. There they boarded a destroyer 
     escort also used to transport supplies.
       For a short time the crew sailed the waves of the Caribbean 
     Sea. ``The Caribbean Sea was a hot spot, a lot of ships were 
     sunk there,'' Young recalled.
       While in the Caribbean, the bow of Young's ship was 
     severely damaged by a torpedo from a German submarine. The 
     sailors abandoned the ship and the wounded were sent to Cuba, 
     Young among them. After arriving in Cuba, the wounded boarded 
     the SS Shiloh en route to the U.S. Navy Hospital in St. 
     Albans, N.Y. Seaman Young remained at the hospital for two 
     months recovering from his injuries and surgery.
       Young returned to duty on the tanker SS Manassas hauling 
     fuel to England. This ship made seven trips from New York to 
     England (14 trips across the Atlantic). ``We also hauled 
     gasoline from Port Arthur, Texas,'' Young said. ``We would 
     sail up the coast and join a convoy, maybe 60 ships. Several 
     ships were sunk by German submarines during the seven 
     crossings.''
       The Manassas was rammed by an Allied vessel in the English 
     Channel and was docked at Belfast, Ireland, a short time for 
     repairs. ``While the ship was docked for repairs, we still 
     carried on with our duties,'' Young said. ``This was just 
     before the invasion of France, and the crew had to be alert 
     at all times.''
       Young recalls being in the English Channel after the 
     invasion of France and once again was transferred to a supply 
     ship, the SS Willard Gibbs. ``This time we took supplies and 
     ammo to Omaha Beach,'' he said.
       The Willard Gibbs could not get near the beach, so supplies 
     were loaded onto barges and transported to the beach. 
     ``During the unloading of the ship, the crew members went 
     ashore and walked on Omaha Beach,'' Young said. ``This was 
     about a month after the invasion.''
       Once more Young's ship returned to New York, reloaded with 
     supplies, and returned through the Panama Canal across the 
     Pacific Ocean to the Philippine Islands Leyte, Luzon and 
     Samar as well as the Mariana Islands, Caroline Island, and 
     several others.
       This passage was to be Young's last ocean voyage. When he 
     arrived back in Los Angeles aboard the SS Willard Gibbs, he 
     received 32 days travel time to return to New York.
       Instead of taking a bus to the east coast, Young and three 
     crew members hitchhiked. ``We were on Old Highway 66, and we 
     got a ride with one fellow all the way to St. Louis,'' he 
     said. ``It took us three days and nights, and at St. Louis we 
     split up, got bus tickets and headed home.''
       After a short furlough at his home in Perry County, Young 
     went back to New York. But during his 32 days travel time, 
     the war ended.
       After his furlough was over, Young reported to Lido Beach, 
     Long Island, New York, where he was told there was a 
     possibility he would not have to go back out to sea but would 
     have shore duty. The New York base was turned into a USN 
     Personnel Separation Center, and Young remained on land.
       While Young was finishing his tour of duty in New York, he 
     attended barber school. ``An announcement came over the 
     loudspeakers that barbers were needed for 12 chairs at the 
     Navy barber shop, and I applied,'' Young stated. ``On the 
     ships, we didn't have any barbers so we cut each other's 
     hair. I enjoyed it.'' While working mornings in the barber 
     shop, Young attended barber school in the afternoons and 
     evenings.
       On Aug. 8, 1946, just a few weeks short of four years since 
     his enlistment, Young was discharged from the U.S. Navy. He 
     returned to his native eastern Kentucky home, went to 
     Frankfort, took and successfully passed the State Barber 
     Board examination, and received his barber's license.
       While serving in the U.S. Navy, Young received several 
     medals the Good Conduct

[[Page S2318]]

     Medal, the American Theater Medal, the European Theater 
     Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Medal, the Philippine Liberation 
     Medal, and the Victory Medal.
       Three years after being discharged, he married Lela Baker 
     of Hazard, and for 20 years he lived and cut hair in his 
     hometown.
       In 1965, Young, his wife, Lela, and two children, David and 
     Judy, moved to the Sublimity area of Laurel County. In 1995, 
     his wife passed away, and today Young's family includes son 
     David and wife, Lillie; daughter, Judy Smith and husband, 
     G.J.; three grandchildren, David Ryan Young, Cameron Justin 
     Smith, and Trey Jordan Smith; and one great-grandson, David 
     Rylan Young.
       Young retired from the swivel chair and scissors several 
     years ago, but his hands do not remain idle he makes wood-
     crafted items and plays several musical instruments. This 
     talent got him an appearance in 1947 on the first official 
     broadcast of the Hazard radio station.
       Today, not in good health, like most World War II veterans, 
     Young spends his days reminiscing and visiting with family 
     and friends who stop by Laurel Heights Home for the Elderly.

                          ____________________