Colonel Mason James (Jim) Young Jr., US Army-retired, passed away June 6, 2015 in Williamsburg, Virginia. Born November 10, 1923 into an Army family, in New Orleans, Louisiana, he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, DC in 1941 and from the US Military Academy at West Point on D-Day, June 6, 1944, one year early due to the need for young officers at the front in World War II.
A veteran of three wars, Jim served in WW II, Korea and Vietnam as an Artillery Officer and Commander as well as in staff and command assignments including in post-War Japan for General Douglas MacArthur, and in Germany, Taiwan, Thailand and throughout the United States. He retired in 1974 at Fort Monroe, Virginia where he was responsible for Basic and Advanced Individual Training across the US Army
He was wounded by the Nazis and received the Bronze Star for Valor in World War II. He earned the Bronze Star for service in Korea and Vietnam as well as multiple awards of the Legion of Merit and the Air Medal for service in Vietnam. He had over 65 parachute jumps, serving with the 101st Airborne Division.
In retirement he earned an MBA from The College of William and Mary and taught at Christopher Newport College. He served as an Officer in the Association of the US Army and also the Kiwanis Club of Denbigh, Virginia. He was a dedicated usher at Bruton Parish Episcopal Church.
Jim was a long standing member of the Scottish Saint Andrews Society, the Crown Colony Club and the West Point Society of Williamsburg, where he was the oldest graduate. He actively participated and hosted Pot Luck & Poetry with friends in Williamsburg. He spent summers at his family home in Londonderry, NH. Jim married his beloved wife, Helen Bullard Young, on July 16, 1945, a marriage that lasted 58 years. Following her death in 2003, he resided at Patriots Colony in Williamsburg.
He is survived by a brother, William B Young of New York City and by 3 children: Mason James Young III, Lieutenant Colonel US Army Reserve-retired (married to Carolyn Lane Young) of Oak Hill, Virginia, Joanne W Young (married to Bruce Foreman) of Washington DC, and Ambassador Stephen M Young (married to Barbara Finamore) of Londonderry, NH.
His Grandchildren are: Maureen Foreman Donnelly of Newark, Delaware, Mason James Young IV of Arlington, VA, Caroline Lane Young of New York, NY, Michael North Young of Washington, DC, Markley North Foreman Schlegel of Denver, Colorado, Clifford James Foreman, 2nd Lieutenant USMC, of San Clemente, California, Rebecca Anne Young of Seattle, Washington, and Patrick Stephen Young of Orange, California. His Great-Grandchildren are: Colin Donnelly and Owen Donnelly of Newark, Delaware as well as Mason James Young V and John Francis Young of Arlington, Virginia.
Jim Young Is remembered not just as a “Muddy Boots Soldier,” Artillery Commander and decorated Veteran of three wars, but a man dedicated to country, family, friends, church and community, who lived by his values and was gracious to all.
Memorial services for Col. Jim Young will be held on Friday, June 19, 2015 at 2 pm at Bruton Parish Episcopal Church in Williamsburg, Virginia and locally on Saturday July 11, 2015 at 2 pm at St Peters Episcopal Church, 3 Peabody Row, Londonderry, NH followed by interment in Glenwood Cemetery, Londonderry with full Military Honors. Memorial contributions may be made to: The Warrior-Scholar Project, The Grove, 760 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06510 or www.warrior-scholar.org/donate.aspx