Colonel Young was an American officer assigned to the 505th Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division who fought in World War II.
During Operation Husky, he flew a glider toward Gela, which subsequently crashed in the town square. Lieutenant Delaney ordered Hawkins' squad to the crash site to attempt to relieve Young and the other survivors.
During the firefight, all but one of Young's men and Young himself were killed. After that, Hawkins' team never saw the colonel again.