CSM Charles E. Young (Ret.)- Sunrise was Sept. 15, 1941, Adams County, Mississippi to Mrs. Mary L. (Smith) Young and Mr. Oscar Young, Sr. He was preceded in death by both of his parents and his oldest sister, Mrs. Ruby Lee Marsaw.
Charles joined the church at a very early age in his life. He was a member of the Smithland Baptist Church of rural Adams County. Charles joined the U.S. Army in November, 1960, and retired as a Command Sergeant Major on March 1, 1990. After leaving the Army, Charles worked as the Project Manager for Contract Services at Ft. Riley until June 1999.
While on active duty, Charles’ assignments were Ft. Jackson, SC; Ft. McCellan, AL; Ft. Wainwright, AK; Ft. Lewis, Washington; Republic of South Vietnam for 2 years; four tours in Germany, 2 tours in South Korea, Ft. Ord, Calif.; Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland; Saudi Arabia; and Ft. Riley, KS. His awards and decorations include: The NCO Development, #4 Legion of Merit, Meritious Service Medal (5th Award), Army Commendation Medal (5th Award), Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign Award, Vietnam Service (3rd Award), Vietnam Cross of Galliant with Palm, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Korean Service Medal, Pershing Professional Medal, the Army Achievement Award, Tenth Award of the Good Conduct Medal, and the Armed Forces Service Ribbon.
While in the military, he attended a number of military and civilian schools, which included the United States Sergeants Major Academy Class #19; Harfort Community College; University of Texas-El Paso; and the University of Maryland.
Charles was a member of the Normandy Baptist Chapel, Ft. Riley; the William Leroy Talbot, Post # 8773 of the V.F.W.; Scratch Me #6 MOC; and the Armed Forces E-9 Association. Charles was currently serving as the Supreme Senior Vice-President of the Military Order of Cootie; and was to be installed as the Commander of the Military Order of Cootie, being the first from Kansas to serve in that office.
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 52 years, Shirreen (Ryan) Young; 2 sons, Charles E. Young and Lewis O. Young, both of Junction City; 2 daughters, Shirreen Rivera (Luis), Junction City, and Mary Lee Young, Cibolo, Texas; 9 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; 5 brothers, Louis O. Young, Drew, MS, Willie Young, Elizabeth City, NC, James Young, Natchez, MS, John Henry Byrd, Moss Point, MS, and Jim Byrd, Nathchez, MS; 6 sisters, Betty Young, Shirley Thompson, and Joyce Johnson (Lonnie), all of Natchez, MS, Peggie J. Thomas, Pasagoula, MS, Ms. Willie M. Byrd, Moss Point, MS, and Mary Seldon, Junction City; 3 aunts, Ms. Daisy Smith and Ms. Rosetta Jackson, Los Angeles, Calif., Ms. Margaret Brown, Chicago, IL; 2 great aunts,
Ms. Marie Fulton and Ms. Luella Jackson, Natchez, MS; 2 sisters-in-law, Ms. Linda Vinson, Junction City, and Mrs. Brenda Chisholm (William), Fayetteville, NC. Charles was also preceded in death by his step-father, Mr. Willie Byrd. Rest My Son, Your Work On This Earth Is Done.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at the Second Missionary Baptist Church, with Rev. Dr. Leonard Gray presiding. Burial will be at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Ft. Riley, Manhattan. Full military honors will be provided by the U.S. Army Honor Guard from Ft. Riley. The family will greet friends, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., at Penwell-Gabel Mass-Hinitt Chapel, 805 Caroline, Junction City. The William Leroy Talbot, Post #8773 of the V.F.W. / M.O.C. will have an honor service at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Second Missionary Baptist Church, 701 W. 10th, Junction City, KS 66441.