XVIII Airborne Corps NCO Killed in Afghanistan

A Fort Bragg soldier died in Afghanistan on Aug. 28 when his unit was attacked, the Defense Department announced Thursday.

Sgt. 1st Class Ricardo D. Young, 34, of Rosston, Ark., died of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire in Ghazni Province. He was assigned to the 307th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps.

Young joined the Army on September 17, 1997, as an Infantryman, attending One Station Unit Training at Ft. Benning, Ga., before reporting to Fort Campbell, Ky. for his first assignment. Young served in various assignments, including three combat tours, before being assigned to the 738th ESC as a Horizontal Construction Engineer.

“Sergeant First Class Ricardo Young leaves behind a legacy of intense camaraderie with his fellow Soldiers. He had a special sense of humor that endeared him to his fellow man,” said Col. James H. Raymer, 20th Engineer Brigade commander.

“Whether you were taking classes with him, or serving alongside him on a deployed mission, you could not help but think how worthy he was of professional emulation. Sergeant Young loved family, football, and the Army - a career he cultivated for 15 years with 2 tours to Iraq and 1 to Afghanistan, as well as several other overseas assignments. He will be missed,” Raymer said.

Young’s attended Air Assault School, Airborne School, Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course and the Senior Leaders Course.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO medal, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.