Warrior of the Week: William Young

Selfless. Free-spirited. Athletic. Hard-working.

Those are some of the words that have been used to describe this week’s Warrior of the Week: Marine Cpl. William Young.

Currently stationed in North Carolina, Toms River’s 23-year-old Cpl. Young is a field radio control coordinator for the Marines.

Christie Nikola, his mother, said that she nominated Cpl. Young as a “warrior” because of the pride she has in her son’s accomplishments.

Cpl. Young enlisted just after graduating Toms River North High School three years ago.

While in high school, Cpl. Young was a very active athlete, participating in the soccer and football team’s championship wins. He also won a golf tournament, said Nikola.

Cpl. Young did not slow down once he joined the military.

He passed boot camp “with flying colors,” and got the second highest shooting rank in battalion, said Nikola.

“When he puts his mind to something, he succeeds at everything he does,” said Nikola.

As a field radio control coordinator, Cpl. Young makes sure that all of the other battalions are still in communication with each other.

During his last tour in Afghanistan, he worked with ten different battalions at one time, making calls to them every hour, said Nikola.

Cpl. Young was recently back at home for winter break, and visited the first grade students at Joseph A. Citta elementary school.

His younger brothers, both students at Citta, had set up donation boxes and letters that he could bring back to his base, said Nikola.

Cpl. Young continues to display his selfless character whenever he is home, said Nikola.

Nikola said that after Hurricane Sandy, Young came home and helped shovel and clean his friend’s destroyed home.

“He’s just always putting other people and other things before himself,” said Nikola.

“I even saw him turn around from his trip back to North Carolina just to give his friend a ride.”

“I’m so proud and I love him, and all I could ask is for him to be safe,” said Nikola.

Cpl. Young thanks his parents, brothers, and friends for the nomination and support.

“My family and friends back home mean the most to me,” said Cpl. Young.

He encourages that people keep their minds open about joining the military.

Everyone involved is like a brother or sister, said Young.

“I’ve met a lot of people from different places,” said Young. “It’s nice knowing that they all have my back, and I have theirs.”