Natasha Young Hero in Our Midst
by Tech. Sgt.
James Moore
LAWRENCE - A patriot, as defined by the
Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is One
who loves his or her country and supports
its authority and interests. The
word is sometimes overused or even
misused, but not when we use it to
describe Natasha Young, make that Staff
Sergeant Young, United States Marine
Corps, who is this months Valley
Patriot of the Month.
Staff Sergeant Young hails
from Lawrence, MA and joined the United
States Marine Corps in 1999. This October
will mark her 9-year anniversary as a
marine. When I asked her whether
she plans to make the Marine Corps a
career, she said in an earnest tone,
Absolutely!
Staff Sergeant Young is a Marine
first and foremost, but also a Bulk Fuel
Specialist currently serving as an
Enlisted Accessions Recruiter in
Plymouth, MA. Her 8 year career has
taken her to Ft. Lee, Va., Okinawa,
Japan, the Humvee Detachment in
Londonderry, NH, New River, NC, Cherry
Point, NC, Camp Lejeune, SC, Iraq, and
now to The United States Marine Corps
Recruiting Substation, Plymouth,
MA.
She always sets the pace in whatever
position she holds and is doing many
great things with her new position as an
Enlisted Accessions Recruiter. She
has been awarded a Navy Commendation
Medal, 4 Navy and Marine Corps Medals,
the Navy Unit Citation, 2 Meritorious
Unit Service Medals, an Iraqi Campaign
Medal, and Expeditionary and Service
Medals in the Global War on Terror.
When I asked her which awards and/or
decorations are the most important to her
she replied, Do you want me to be
completely honest? and then
continued, I dont wear them
because they look nice, but the one that
is the most important to me is my Navy
Commendation Medal
Staff Sergeant Young earned this award
while she was deployed for a year in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
While stationed at Camp Lejeune, Staff
Sergeant Young was tasked with the 2nd
EOD Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
and was attached to that Company for two
years. She was hand-picked by the
Company Commander of the 2nd EOD Company
to accompany them to Iraq due to her
organizational skills and her attention
to detail.
She went on to say that some of the men
and women she was deployed with from the
2nd EOD Company paid the ultimate price
and did not return with her.
They are an, awesome, awesome group
of men and women and for the first time
in my career, I felt that I was amongst
heroes.
She continued by saying that this
particular deployment was the toughest,
and at the same time the most gratifying,
deployment she has ever participated in.
I worked with extraordinary men
working under extraordinary conditions.
They were GREAT! It was the hardest work
Ive ever done. They should get all
the credit in the world.
When I first spoke to Staff
Sergeant Young, I was really impressed
with her professionalism and demeanor as
she spoke of her service and commitment
to the Marine Corps. Her enthusiasm
and sincere appreciation for being a part
of the Corps was ever present during our
conversation.
She loves the fact that the Marine Corps
has taught her many things, but what she
cherishes the most about her service in
the Marine Corps is her fellow Marines
and the friendships that she has
developed over the years.
These are people that have come from all
walks of life. The one thing they have in
common is that they are Marines.
She admits, I dont take no
for an answer, and I dont ever lay
my head down at night and wonder if I
made a difference on any given day. I
gave it all. I love what I do.
Staff Sergeant Young is pursuing an
Associates Degree in Liberal Arts at this
time and, in the future, she would like
to earn a Bachelors degree in
Social Work/Youth Counseling. She
has aspirations of setting up her own
Boot Camp for youngsters in
the future.
Staff Sergeant Young has a very big soft
spot for the youngsters generally, and
for Lawrence youth in particular. She
says, If they can dream it, they
can do it! She attributes her
strong-willed, can-do attitude to living
and growing up in Lawrence.
As for the way she feels bout serving in
the United States Marine Corps, she
says, To do things that you
thought werent possible
to
be able to do them
its very
gratifying."
This local heroine is aware of some of
the ways that women in the Marines (maybe
all military women) are often
portrayed. Im a Marine
and a lady first, she declares,
Im class. Were still
women, but we just wear cammies to work
because of the nature of our job. We are
Marines, but still moms, still wives and
still homemakers. Some of the best moms
are Marines
.
She is truly a Patriot and no doubt a
top-notch, quality individual that exudes
enthusiasm and is fervently proud to
serve her country.
She describes herself as colorful
and vibrant and I would have
to say that that is an apt description
after speaking with her. You may see
Staff Sergeant Natasha Young on her
brand-new 2008 Harley Nightster somewhere
on I-495. If you do, say, Hi
and Semper Fi.
Staff Sergeant Natasha Young, thank you
for your dedicated service!
Tech.
Sergeant James Moore is a
member of the United States Air Force and
our Hero columnist. You can e-mail
Sgt. Moore at moore.jr5@verizon.net
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(C) copyright, Valley Patriot, Inc., 2008
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