John "Chet" Young

John Chester “Chet” Young, of Bryan, Ohio, passed away at his residence. Chet entered this life on January 22, 1918, and departed this life on January 22, 2013, his 95th birthday. He was born in Williams County, Ohio, the son of John Newton and Jenny Dell (Meyers) Young. He was a life member of the Bryan VFW Post #2489 and a former member of the Bryan Eagles Aerie #2233. Chet graduated from Bryan High School and upon completion of his education his journey continued with his enlistment in the Army on August 1, 1941, at the Toledo, Ohio, Induction Center. He next found himself at Fort Hayes in Columbus, Ohio, where after achieving extremely high scores on his IQ aptitude test, he was on his way to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, for training in the Radio/Communications Signal Corp. Chet successfully completed his training on December 16, 1941, nine days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack put Chet on an Army transport ship which took him to Puerto Rice at the Moreal Castle (built by the Englishman, Admiral Nelson) in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. Then assigned to the 12th Signal Corp, Chet found himself on the move again and was on a supply ferry from Puget Sound. The ferry received German fire as they continued to travel. There was no refrigeration on the ferry, so the men lived on a diet of “tasty” C-rations as they made their way through the Caribbean installing radio stations on all land leased bases. This was no small feat; they would have to dig down 12 feet to raise a 90-foot antenna for the much needed communication lines. This took Chet from Jamaica to St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Louisianan and then Trinidad. He was then assigned to the 973rd Signal Services, where he became a Cryptographer. After a short time, Chet took the Aviation Cadet qualification test and passed with flying colors. He then was sent to Kessler Air Force Base in Mississippi only to find out the Army was in dire need of “ground pounders,” not aviators. Chet’s next stop was Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, assigned to the 2814th Engineer Communications, and he became a Communications Chief. He left in early 1944 for Camp Barton, Winchester, England, then to La Havre, France, to clean up so the harbor masters could set up port. He was then assigned to the 6th Army under General Patch heading through Alschel, France, to Loraine and then central Germany, all the time clearing mine fields and building bridges. They made their way back to Grundstandt, Germany, was transported back to France and then 37 days on the USS C.F. Hughes to Lazan, Philippines, where they freed POWs and cleaned the area for medical care. Chet ran a ditching machine to provide water line all the way to Quezon City. On August 4, 1945, Japan unconditionally surrendered and Chet turned in his papers, attended a farewell party and headed home to Bryan, Ohio, and his family, just in time to celebrate Thanksgiving. During his military career, Chet earned Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two bronze stars. After returning to Bryan, Chet worked at the Holibird Company for 38 years, retiring as Plant Superintendent on April 1, 1983. He married Anita (Wolf) in Angola, Indiana, on July 5, 1965, and she survives. Also surviving are his son, Troy Rene Bunting, of Bryan, daughter, Kathy Williams, of San Antonio, Texas, and granddaughter, Brandy Lidge, of San Antonio, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Forrest “Brig” Young and James “Jimmy” Young, and his sisters, Maude Wiles and Elizabeth “Betty” Brown. According to Chet’s wishes, he will be cremated and will have grave side services at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at Fountain Grove Cemetery. Military rites will be provided by the Bryan VFW Post #2489. The family is being assisted in their arrangements by Krill Funeral Service, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to the Bryan Senior Center or the Williams County Humane Society.