Ivy Soldier Dedicates Life to Country

By Sgt. David Hodge

1st BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - A Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldier carried the seven Army Values with him everywhere he went, to include his household.

Staff Sgt. Jason Young, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic assigned to Company B, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, MND-B, serves as the moral compass for his Family and role model to two other servicemembers.

A 15-year Army veteran, Young, adopted his wife's three kids after arriving at Fort Hood, Texas more than nine years ago.

"When I met Susan, I always tried to instill the Army Values in the household," said Young, who hails from Plymouth, Ind.

Capt. Phillip Cain, commander of Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, re-enlists Cpl. Jason Young, during a ceremony at Camp Taji north of Baghdad. Young, an AH-64 attack helicopter repairer, who calls Temple, Texas, his home, is assigned to Co. B, 1st Bn., 4th Avn. Regt. Young's father, Staff Sgt. Jason Young, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic from Plymouth, Ind., is assigned to Co. B, 4th Support Bn., 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, visited his son at Camp Taji for the re-enlistment.

Balancing the military and his Family was not always easy for the veteran of three deployments and Young confesses that taking care of them was always a joint effort with his wife, Susan.

"It can become stressful trying to balance career and Family," Young explained. "The kids noticed my hard work and dedication, and I always stopped what I was doing for them."

Susan is a school teacher and a member of the Family Readiness Group program since the year 2001, said Young.

"Susan is the backbone of the Family," Young admitted. "If there is anything going on while I am away, she handles it."

Cpl. Jason Young, an AH-64 attack helicopter repairer, is congratulated by his comrades after re-enlisting for six years at Camp Taji north of Baghdad. Young, who hails from Temple, Texas, assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, re-enlisted for six years. Young's father, Staff Sgt. Jason Young, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic assigned to Co. B, 4th Support Bn., 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, flew to Taji to attend the ceremony.

Young seized an opportunity to fly from his base, Forward Operating Base Falcon in southern Baghdad, to attend his son's re-enlistment ceremony.

Young's son, Cpl. Jason Young, extended his service to his country for another six years during a ceremony Nov. 14 at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad.

"It's really good to have my dad at my re-enlistment," said Cpl. Young, a veteran of approximately four-and-a-half years. "It was fun getting to show him where I work."

Cpl. Young, a U.S. Army AH-64 attack helicopter repairer with Co. B, 1st Bn., 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, said he takes pleasure in the opportunity to continue fixing aircraft.

Staff Sgt. Jason Young shakes the hand of his son, Cpl. Jason Young, after his re-enlistment at Camp Taji, Iraq Staff Sgt. Young is a wheeled-vehicle mechanic assigned to Company B, 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, serving at Forward Operating Base Falcon in southern Baghdad's Rashid district. Cpl. Young, an AH-64 attack helicopter repairer assigned to Co. B, 1st Bn., 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, re-enlisted for six years and calls Temple, Texas, his home. Staff Sgt. Young is a 15-year veteran and hails from Plymouth, Ind.

"I am pretty happy," Cpl. Young stated. "I get to continue with what I want to do - fix Apaches."

Cpl. Young said he enjoys the Army life because it is structured and his camaraderie between friends is special.

"I've been looking forward to serving in the Army ever since I was a kid, so I hope to make it another 20 years," said Cpl. Young, a native of Temple, Texas.

Cpl. Young appreciates time spent with his dad whether it's at the 4th Inf. Div.'s home in Fort Hood, Texas, or deployed.

"I don't get to hang-out with him very often," the junior Young explained. "Back in the rear, we get weekends off and sometimes I pick up my son and hang out at my parent's house."

Cpl. Young said that he truly believes he is defining a better life for his Family and his son by serving his country.

Cpl. Jason Young (right) and his father, Staff Sgt. Jason Young, compete in a friendly video game of football at Camp Taji north of Baghdad. Cpl. Young, an AH-64 attack helicopter repairer and native of Temple, Texas, is assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, and recently re-enlisted for six years. Staff Sgt. Young, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic from Plymouth, Ind., is assigned to Co. B, 4th Support Bn., 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, and is a 15-year veteran of the U.S. Army.

"My son will be able to take pride and say, 'my dad's a Soldier,'" Cpl. Young said.

Staff Sgt. Young also has a 17-year-old daughter entering the Army as a CH-47 crew member after she graduates high school.

"My girl has always looked up to me," Staff Sgt. Young explained. "That makes me feel proud."

Young recently signed a waiver form for Jordan to enter before her 18th birthday.

"I think my kids realized everything they needed was provided to them while they were growing up," Staff Sgt. Young said. "The military is a good living."

The Youngs are currently serving a combat deployment with the 4th Inf. Div., MND-B in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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