Award of the Purple Heart, 93 years later

Yesterday, much to our surprise we received the Purple Heart Certificate for Private Newton Willard Young from the United States Army's Human Resources Command (HRC) Fort Knox, KY. Newton Willard Young is Keith's grandfather on his father's side. Keith has spent much of the last year researching his time in the Army during World War I. In the records he received from the VA and through the Texas National Guard he was able to compile a packet to have his Grandfather's records reviewed by the Army's Awards Branch in order to determine he eligibility for the Purple Heart. Something Keith was very certain about after reading his service records and VA documentation.

The end result of his efforts was the Awards Branch determined that Private Newton Willard Young, Serial Number, 1 491 248, M Company, 167th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Brigade, 42nd Division, 1st Army Corps, American Expeditionary Forces was entitled to be awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 14 October 1918, during the Battle of the Argonne Forest, in France.

Private Newton Willard Young, M Company, 167th Infantry, 42nd "Rainbow" Division.

Permanent Order 223-01, awarding the Purple Heart.

Private Newton Willard Young's Purple Heart Certificate, awarded 10 August 2012.

 

Private Newton Willard Young lived to the age of 73 and passed nearly 40 years ago and did not leave many clues about his service during the Great War aka World War I. It has been some ninety-three years since he was wounded on 14 October 1918. He and all of his fellow veterans who served their country during the Great War are now gone, but never forgotten. Seventy years ago, the Purple Heart was authorized in its current form and was back dated to the first day of World War I. The veterans or their next of kin could apply for, with supporting documentation, the award of the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the enemies of the United States of America. As stipulated and promised, Private Newton Willard Young has received the recognition for his service and wounds received. He was one of the 95,000 Americans wounded in the Battle of the Argonne Forest, but fortunately, not one of the 26,000 who gave their lives.

In addition to the Purple Heart, Private Young was approved for and will receive his World War I Victory Medal with France Service Clasp, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector Battle Clasps and the World War I Victory Button-Silver. The medals are being processed and engraved and will be shipped within 6 months. Once they are received, we will add another post.