William C. Young was born on September 23, 1918, in Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of George R. Young and Margaret A. Cooper Young. He served in the 31st Infantry Regiment as a Staff Sergeant during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, SSgt 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.

SSgt Young was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 10, 1942. He is now buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph in the Orchard Hills Cemetery, Shamokin Dam, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com