Firefighter Young proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps from July 1966 until his discharge as a sergeant in September of 1969. As a mortar man in the Vietnam campaign, he earned the National Defense Service, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbons, Vietnamese Service Medal with three Stars, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.

After his discharge from military duty, he resided in the Wilmington, Delaware, area and was an active member in the Elsmere Fire Company, joining the organization in 1970. He served as rescue captain in 1973, engine captain from 1974-1975, ambulance captain in 1980, and became a life member in 1990. He also served as a training administrator for the state of Delaware at the Delaware State Fire School from September 1974 until his retirement in August 2002.

In 1985, he moved to Dover, where he joined the Robbin’s Hose Fire Company in 2002 and served as an active member. He served on the board of directors and the camera committee. When not driving fire trucks, he was always there to capture the activities of the department and its members through his love of photography. He was a mentor for young members and a brother to all. He was one of the first nationally registered emergency medical technicians in the state and served on the State Critical Incident Team.