William Orvil Young

Mr. Young served in WWII ● WWII began in 1939 and ended in Young enlisted in It was one of the most memorable experiences of his life...

Navy ● In 1942 he enlisted into the Navy. He entered with a clear conscience rather than being drafted into the Army, which was what he had planned to avoid. He realized, upon joining, that there were advantages in the navy that the men in the army were not as fortunate to have; such as: a good place to sleep, three meals a day, and that they were not on the front lines.

Early Life ● Mr. Young was born in 1920, July 31 in Brooker, Texas. While he lived there he, and his family, raised cattle, horses, turkeys and ducks. He helped his father tend to the horses and cattle while his mother looked after the chickens and the turkeys. He remembers how his “family was not rich, but never went hungry either.” He went to elementary school there in a one room school house. He experienced the “Dust bowl” and “The Great Depression.”

Dust bowl/ Great Depression ● Before moving to California they sold the farm and its memories, including the animals that became personal to him throughout the years. With the money that was raised his family, and a family friend named Dan Dozel. They arrived in California when he was thirteen and he grew up in Pamona, CA. After graduating Pamona High school in 1939, he attended Chaffee Junior college.

Marriage and Kids ● In 1942 he married his first wife Loraine, within that year he enlisted in the navy. Together they spent 51 happily married years, unfortunately she passed away in 1993 due to illness. With her he raised three boys. His first son is Raymond Orvil Young and he was born in 1943 while he supported landing troops in Sicily. The first time he saw his first son was nine months after he was born.

● His second son, Carrie Lane Young, was named after the captain that Mr. Young was most fond of. His second son was born in 1945, after Young was discharged from the navy, and later became a doctor. In 1950 his third son, Mark Allen Young, was born. Our group met his second wife Carol Young during his interview.

Navy Ship ● After enlisting he was assigned to the ship known as the Brooklyn. He was the quarter master of the ship. When WWII was over the ship was sold off to different places such as Chile who sold it to other places for basically scrap “luckily the ship sank before it reached its final destination.”

North Africa ● George Patton led the Army troops into N. Africa. Young claims it as the first REAL invasion into WWII.

Anzio Beach ● Winston Churchill ordered them to land in Anzio. The plan was to get to high ground and cut off all supplies to Germans. According to Young it was almost a complete disaster. What had happened was the Germans got there first and the American army that was supposed to go after them depended almost entirely on the navy. The army sent was: ill equipped, tired, and was sparse.

First Time Home ● When he arrived back into the states he found himself to be a father. Young described how it was hard to get used to living with civilization again with out a required time to report back to quarters. “[His wife] put him into check real fast when he got home.”

Germany ● During the invasion of Sicily his navy ship came under attack by German air force. To locate American ships Germans used phosphorous flares. Their defense: go as fast as possible and open fire when necessary. Germans were seen armed with 88mm guns and shot at Americans through hotel rooms!

Pacific ● In 1945 Mr. young received his training and preparations to deploy into the Pacific. Fortunately, he says, he stayed in the Atlantic where it was safe.

VJ Day ● He was still training then the first atomic bomb was dropped in July After the second bomb was dropped, Japan surrendered in August of that year.

Discharged from the Navy ● Young was discharged from the Navy in October, He was a family man from then on and found a job as soon as possible.

Where He Worked ● Mr. Young promised himself that he would not return back to Bank of America again, as a teller, but in fact, that is what he did after being discharged. In 1947 he left bank of America to be a sales manager for Home Oil company. In 1963 he left Home Oil company for a job with Featherstone Inc., as a district manager. In 1965 he bought a partnership in Redlands Automotive Sales. After selling his partnership to his partner in 1977 he bought Big T Auto Parts in Rialto and his son helped him own it.

Retirement ● He retired in 1985 and took care of his wife, who was ill. In 2003 he sold Big T Auto Parts and after he got married to his second wife, Carol, he has spent many days vacationing with her, visiting all 50 states of America.