For Barbara Smith, the story of her father’s military service has never been confined to a single document or moment in time. Instead, it has unfolded piece by piece — through memory, community connections, and, in one meaningful case, a decades-old newspaper clipping.
Smith, a Marietta native, has spent years trying to learn more about her father, Master Sgt. William O. Young Jr., U.S. Army (Ret.), who served more than two decades, including as a recruiter from 1966 to 1968. She was in Marietta this week to meet with some of those who knew him during his military career and could share their stories. While official military records have been difficult to obtain, one article published shortly after his death in 1999 offered a clearer picture of the role he played in his community.
Written by Roy D. Ash and dated Oct. 27, 1999, the article described Young as “one of a handful of local veterans advocates” who could always be counted on to support patriotic and veterans-related activities…