Rodger Wilton Young Rodger Wilton Young ( April 28 , 1918 – July 31 , 1943 ) was an American infantry man in the U . S . Army during World War II . He was killed on the island of New Georgia while helping his platoon withdraw under enemy fire . For his actions , he posthumously received the United States ' highest military decoration , the Medal of Honor . Young is remembered in a song , " The Ballad of Rodger Young " by Frank Loesser , most famously recorded by Burl Ives , which extolled his courage and willingness to die to protect his comrades in arms . Early life . Young was born in Tiffin , Ohio on April 28 , 1918 , to Nicholas Young and his wife . As a boy he lived at Green Springs before moving to the town of Clyde , Ohio . During his formative years he liked to go hunting , and he developed his skills at shooting and marksmanship during this time . Although he was a small boy , he was also a keen athlete and in his freshman year at high school he tried out for the football team . He was not selected initially , but during practice his enthusiasm convinced the coach to let him play occasionally . He also played basketball and it was during a game that he received an injury that was to stay with him for life . After being fouled by an opponent , Young fell over on the court , hit his head , and was knocked unconscious . Although he regained consciousness , the incident gradually led to hearing loss and damaged his eyesight . As a result , Young did not complete his schooling , dropping out in his sophomore year when he found it difficult to hear the lessons and see the blackboard . Military service . In 1938 , at the age of 20 , Young joined the Ohio National Guard . Seeking an opportunity to gain some extra income and believing that because of his medical issues he would not pass a medical for the Regular Army , he decided to join the National Guard instead . He was accepted and posted to Company " B " of the 148th Infantry Regiment , attached to the 37th Infantry Division . At only tall , Young was one of the shortest men in his company ; nevertheless , despite this and the fact that he wore glasses , he was considered a good soldier . In October 1940 Young ' s unit was activated for Federal service as part of the United States government ' s preparations for future involvement in the war that was then raging in Europe . A corporal at the time , he undertook the role of a small arms instructor training recruits , and following his promotion to sergeant served as a squad leader . Later , in 1942 , following Japan ' s entry into the war , the 148th was deployed to Fiji and then to the Solomon Islands , where they undertook training prior to being deployed to New Georgia . But Young ' s hearing and eyesight had gotten worse , and he became concerned that these deficits might affect his ability to command in combat , putting his squad at risk . To eliminate this risk , shortly before the 148th landed on New Georgia , Young requested that his rank be reduced to private . Initially his request , made to none other than the 148th ' s regimental commander , was met with some skepticism . Indeed it was believed that Young was attempting to find a way to remove himself from combat ; however , following an examination by a medical officer it was found that Young was almost deaf and the doctor recommended that he be sent to a field hospital . This would mean that he would miss the landing that the regiment was scheduled to undertake , but Young wanted to stay with his fellow soldiers and after pleading his case , he was allowed to remain in the unit . A week later , on July 31 , 1943 , near Munda on New Georgia , Young performed the deeds that led to his posthumously receiving the United States ' military ' s highest decoration , the Medal of Honor . Late in the afternoon , Young was part of a 20 - man patrol that was sent out under the command of a lieutenant to reconnoiter territory held by the Japanese . By 4 : 00 p . m . the patrol had begun to move back to US lines along a trail when they were ambushed . Pinned down by intense fire from five Japanese soldiers in a machine gun pit that was concealed on higher ground away , two soldiers were killed in the initial burst . As the patrol attempted a flanking attack two more Americans were killed , and so the patrol commander gave the order to withdraw . Young had been wounded in the initial burst , but claiming that he had not heard the order and believing that the machine gun had to be destroyed so that the patrol could escape , he ignored the lieutenant ' s order and began creeping towards the Japanese position . Another burst from the machine gun wounded him a second time . Despite his wounds , he continued his advance , attracting enemy fire and answering with rifle fire . When he was close enough to the machine gun emplacement , he began throwing hand grenades , and while doing so , he was hit again and was killed . By diverting the fire of the machine gun he was responsible for several enemy casualties and enabled his platoon to withdraw without further loss . In 1949 , Young ' s remains were returned to the United States and buried in McPherson Cemetery in Clyde , Ohio . Honors and awards . Medal of Honor citation . Young ' s Medal of Honor citation reads : Rank and organization : Private , U . S . Army , 148th Infantry , 37th Infantry Division . Place and date : On New Georgia , Solomon Islands , 31 July 1943 . Entered service at : Clyde , Ohio . Birth : Tiffin , Ohio . G . O . No . : 3 , 6 January 1944 . Citation : On 31 July 1943 , the infantry company of which Pvt . Young was a member , was ordered to make a limited withdrawal from the battle line in order to adjust the battalion ' s position for the night . At this time , Pvt . Young ' s platoon was engaged with the enemy in a dense jungle where observation was very limited . The platoon suddenly was pinned down by intense fire from a Japanese machinegun concealed on higher ground only 75 yards away . The initial burst wounded Pvt . Young . As the platoon started to obey the order to withdraw , Pvt . Young called out that he could see the enemy emplacement , whereupon he started creeping toward it . Another burst from the machinegun wounded him the second time . Despite the wounds , he continued his heroic advance , attracting enemy fire and answering with rifle fire . When he was close enough to his objective , he began throwing handgrenades , and while doing so was hit again and killed . Pvt . 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 . Other recognition . In 1945 , the future two - time Tony winner Frank Loesser wrote the song " The Ballad of Rodger Young " while a private in the Army ' s Radio Production Unit . " Life " reproduced the song ' s sheet music and lyrics in a story about Rodger Young in March 5 , 1945 . This , and the return of Young ' s remains in 1949 , added to the song ' s popularity , with several best - selling recordings being made , by Burl Ives and Nelson Eddy among others , by the end of the decade . There is a short mention of Young in Robert A . Heinlein ' s 1949 short story " The Long Watch " . In Heinlein ' s Hugo - winning 1959 novel " Starship Troopers " , the troop transport " TFCT Rodger Young " is named for him and the Loesser ballad is featured prominently throughout the book . At the end of the book after the novel is a " Historical Note " with Heinlein ' s retelling of Young ' s citation for gallantry . The starship name " No . 176 " Rodger Young " " is also used in Paul Verhoeven ' s 1997 film version of " Starship Troopers " . Young was also the subject of an episode of the historical TV anthology " The Great Adventure " . He was portrayed by James MacArthur . The following place names honor Young :