Joseph D. Young was born in Lockport, IL in 1919. He joined the United States Army and served as a Rifleman with a rank of Staff Sergeant with the 1st Ranger Battalion.

Don (Joseph's nickname to his friends) was captured in Germany and became a Prisoner Of War in January 1944. During his 14 months as a POW he spent time in camps 7A and 7B in Florence, Italy. In April 1945 Don becaame one of the few POWs to ever escape a POW camp.

After the war, he worked as a carpenter and became an avid flyer. He lived in Fort Myers, Florida from 1987. He belonged to the Disabled American Veterans, the Shriners Club and the Free and Accepted Masons. He was active in the American Ex-Prisoners of War Assoc. Chapter 100 of S.W. Florida for many years. Joseph passed away April 23, 1999. His wife of 56 years, Dorthea, his daughter Adela and his son Joe survived him.