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SSGT - E5 - Army - Regular
Length of service 1 years His tour began on Oct 20, 1967 Casualty was on Aug 21, 1968 In TAY NINH, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Body was recovered Panel 47W - Line 24 More information on August 21, 1968 By Mike Campbell / Johnny Colgin
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The Highest Honor To Marvin Rex Young
Marvin Rex Young was born in Alpine, Texas, the third child to Marilyn Hoskins and Roy Young. He had an older brother, Charles Ray and an older sister Margaret Lorraine. At the time of his birth, Rex's father, a World War II Navy Veteran was attending Sul Ross State College on the GI bill completing his geology degree. After his father completed college, the family moved first to Hobbs, New Mexico and then to Odessa where his father worked for various oil field service companies. The family moved to Odessa in 1955 and Rex attended Sam Houston Elementary. He then attended Bonham Junior High School. Rex was in the 7th grade when his parents divorced and his father remarried and moved to Anchorage, Alaska. Rex remained in Odessa with his mother and completed the 8th and 9th grade. His brother Charles was in the Navy and his sister was a student at Permian High School. His father adopted his new wife's son, Jens and two daughters, Tammie Denise and Carol Ann were born to this marriage.
Rex went to see his father in Anchorage in the summer before his sophomore year in high school. It was just supposed to be a summer visit, but the family finances were strained and Rex was not able to return to Odessa. He attended Anchorage High School his sophomore year, but longed to return to Odessa and attend Odessa Permian High School. At the time, his mother was living in Salt Lake, Utah and his sister, Margeret had recently married and was living in Odessa. His older brother had discharged from the Navy and was living in the Dallas area. Rex pleaded with his mother and sister to allow him to return to Odessa and complete high school. The A. R. Edgmar family of Odessa invited Rex to reside with them in order for Rex to be able to complete high school and Rex returned to Odessa to complete his last two years of high school at Odessa Permian. He graduted with his class in May 1965.
Rex was a gifted athlete, he was a guard on the Permian football team and a catcher on the baseball team. He was also a gifted artist and wanted to attend Texas Tech and enroll in the architect program there. After high school, he attended one semester of college at Odessa College and worked at National Tank. His mother had moved to San Francisco, California and Rex moved to live with her and he completed another semester at Kentfield Junior College. In the summer of 1966, Rex returned to Odessa and resided with Margaret for a short time and joined the Army September 15, 1966 using Margaret's address as his home or record.
He completed basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas and then infantry training at Fort Lewis, Washington. He was then assigned to the 25th Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He departed for Vietnam on October 20, 1967. He was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th infantry of the 25th Infantry Division (Bobcats). He earned his first purple heart from a scrapnel wound on December 7, 1967 and then again in February 1968 during the TET Offensive, also earning a Bronze Star with "V" device.
Rex went to see his father in Anchorage in the summer before his sophomore year in high school. It was just supposed to be a summer visit, but the family finances were strained and Rex was not able to return to Odessa. He attended Anchorage High School his sophomore year, but longed to return to Odessa and attend Odessa Permian High School. At the time, his mother was living in Salt Lake, Utah and his sister, Margeret had recently married and was living in Odessa. His older brother had discharged from the Navy and was living in the Dallas area. Rex pleaded with his mother and sister to allow him to return to Odessa and complete high school. The A. R. Edgmar family of Odessa invited Rex to reside with them in order for Rex to be able to complete high school and Rex returned to Odessa to complete his last two years of high school at Odessa Permian. He graduted with his class in May 1965.
Rex was a gifted athlete, he was a guard on the Permian football team and a catcher on the baseball team. He was also a gifted artist and wanted to attend Texas Tech and enroll in the architect program there. After high school, he attended one semester of college at Odessa College and worked at National Tank. His mother had moved to San Francisco, California and Rex moved to live with her and he completed another semester at Kentfield Junior College. In the summer of 1966, Rex returned to Odessa and resided with Margaret for a short time and joined the Army September 15, 1966 using Margaret's address as his home or record.
He completed basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas and then infantry training at Fort Lewis, Washington. He was then assigned to the 25th Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He departed for Vietnam on October 20, 1967. He was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th infantry of the 25th Infantry Division (Bobcats). He earned his first purple heart from a scrapnel wound on December 7, 1967 and then again in February 1968 during the TET Offensive, also earning a Bronze Star with "V" device.
Medal of Honor Citation
MARVIN REX YOUNG
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
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, Texas
Born: 11 May 1947, Alpine, Texas
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 hisself 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.
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COURTESY OF ANDREW H. ANDERSON (MG-R)
Pictures from his High School Yearbook
MANIOR LANG & REX YOUNG
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Rex So Young
Mike Campbell/Johnny Colgin
Written at the request of Tim Haines
Rex So Young
Blessed with a combination ... seldom found
Strong but meek, with both feet on the ground
A special kind of grin that made you wonder what he'd done
Rex so young
liked by all the guys, wanted by all the girls
His country packed him up and sent him half way 'round the world
We will never know what he might have become
Rex so young
Chorus:
He could have been a rancher, a coach or a CPA
An all-star catcher for the Dodgers in LA
We're just left to wonder about the things he might have done
Rex so young
We've heard it said that all gave some, well some gave all
Just to have their names etched on a cold black marble wall
We will not forget one of Odessa's favorite sons
Rex so young
I can see him walk the halls of PHS in Prender Blue
Or a black and white number 60 football jersey, too
You know how sometimes you just miss someone
Rex so young
Repeat chorus:
Every time TAPS is played or Amazing Grace is sung
I'Il remember Rex so young
We lost Rex so young
Blessed with a combination ... seldom found
Strong but meek, with both feet on the ground
A special kind of grin that made you wonder what he'd done
Rex so young
liked by all the guys, wanted by all the girls
His country packed him up and sent him half way 'round the world
We will never know what he might have become
Rex so young
Chorus:
He could have been a rancher, a coach or a CPA
An all-star catcher for the Dodgers in LA
We're just left to wonder about the things he might have done
Rex so young
We've heard it said that all gave some, well some gave all
Just to have their names etched on a cold black marble wall
We will not forget one of Odessa's favorite sons
Rex so young
I can see him walk the halls of PHS in Prender Blue
Or a black and white number 60 football jersey, too
You know how sometimes you just miss someone
Rex so young
Repeat chorus:
Every time TAPS is played or Amazing Grace is sung
I'Il remember Rex so young
We lost Rex so young
Note: Mike Campbell formerly of Odessa sang the song and he and John Colgin, also formerly of Odessa co-wrote it. Mike played football and baseball with Rex, he was in the Class of 66 at Permian High and was the quarterback for the first Permian State Championship Team. I am good friends with his younger brother, John who lives in Odessa. Mike’s professional name is “Sweet Mike C”
Bill Brown
Bill Brown
