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First Name
Myron
Middle Name
A.
Last Name
Young
Birthdate
Hometown
Calistoga, California
Rank
Lieutenant Colonel
Service Branch
Air Force
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
Joe Young entered Officer Training School on October 2, 1967, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force at Lackland AFB, Texas, on December 22, 1967. Lieutenant Young next completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and was awarded his pilot wings at Randolph AFB, Texas, in March 1969, followed by Pilot Systems Operator training and F-4 Phantom II Combat Crew Training from June to December 1969. His first assignment was as an F-4 Pilot Systems Operator with the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from January 1970 to January 1971, and he then attended regular F-4 pilot upgrade training at George AFB, California, from February to September 1971. Captain Young returned to combat as an F-4E pilot with the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat in November 1971, followed by service as Wing Weapons Officer and then Wing Weapons and Tactics Officer with the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat from May 1972 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on October 12, 1972.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Captain Young was released during Operation Homecoming on March 29, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at March AFB, California, and then served as an F-4 Fighter Weapons Instructor, Administrative Officer, and Maintenance Liaison Officer with the 414th Fighter Weapons Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada, from August 1973 to March 1977. Major Young next served as an F-4E pilot and then as Chief of the Weapons and Tactics Division with the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hahn AB, West Germany, from April 1977 to September 1979, followed by service as an Operations Staff Officer with Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein AB, West Germany, from October 1979 to August 1982. Lieutenant Colonel Young served as an F-4E and then F-16A Fighting Falcon pilot and as Chief of Capability and Assessment with the 613th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Torrejon AB, Spain, from August 1982 to April 1983, and then served as Chief of the Stan/Eval Division with the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing at Torrejon from April to November 1983. His next assignment was as Operations Officer back at the 613th Tactical Fighter Squadron from November 1983 to July 1984, followed by service as Chief of Weapons and Tactics with the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing from July 1984 to August 1985. He served as an Air Operations Officer with the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center at Norton AFB, California, from August 1985 to July 1986, and then as Chief of the Fighter Operations Branch, Readiness Inspection Division, with the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center at Norton from July 1986 until his retirement from the Air Force on December 1, 1988. Joe Young died on July 3, 1998.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Distinguished Flying Cross (6)
- Bronze Star
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release