John Melvin Young was born on May 19, 1921, in Rock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming. He was the son of John Black Young and Maud Rhodes Young. He served in the 19th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Private during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Pvt Young was one of the 10,000 to 12,000 Americans who were forced to march over 60 miles under brutal conditions, resulting in 1,000 to 5,000 deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and abuse. Survivors were sent to Camp O'Donnell, where dire conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and disease, caused an additional 1,500 to 2,300 American deaths within weeks. Those who survived faced ongoing hardships, including transfers to other camps and forced labor, where many continued to suffer or die.

Pvt Young was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 28, 1942. He is now buried in the Rock Springs Cemetery, Rock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com