Charles Mathes Young was born in Helena, Ark., in 1914. He graduated from Georgia Military Academy, College Park, Ga., and subsequently received a Congressional appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, graduating with the Class of 1938.
Commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from West Point, Lieutenant Young then attended the Air Force Flying Training School at Kelly Field, Texas. With the advent of World War II following his graduation from Flying Training School as a pilot, he participated in combat while serving in England and France during 1944.
At the age of 29, while serving in England, he was promoted to the rank of colonel.
Returning to the States in November 1944, Colonel Young held several positions during the years immediately following the war. They included such assignments as a flying supervisor and a deputy for flying training.
In June 1946, he was transferred to Maxwell Field, Ala., where he held the post of instructor in combat tactics in the Air Command and Staff School. He remained at Maxwell until October 1947, when he was reassigned to Japan, where he served until Aug. 1, 1950. During this overseas tour of duty he held positions as plans officer at Headquarters, Thirteenth Air Force in the Philippines and as intelligence officer at Headquarters, Far East Air Force.
Colonel Young was assigned from Japan to Headquarters, U.S. Air Force in Washington where he served as chief, Policy and Management Group, Deputy Chief of Staff/Intelligence, until August 1953, at which time he attended the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
Upon graduation from the War College in June 1954, he was returned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, where he served as chairman of the Training Committee, Joint Tactical Air Support Board. From January 1955 until August 1957, he was commander of the 3560th Pilot Training Wing, Webb Air Force Base, Texas. In August 1957, he was transferred from Webb Air Force Base to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, where he served as inspector general for Air Training Command until his assignment overseas in June 1958 and assumption of command of the 86th Fighter Interceptor Wing, at Ramstein Air, Base, Germany, effective June 30, 1958.
In July l959 Colonel Young was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces, Europe, as deputy chief of staff, intelligence. At that time this office was located at Ramstein Air Base, but was subsequently moved to Lindsey Air Station, Wiesbaden, Germany, in November of that year. In April 1960, he was promoted to brigadier general.
(Current as of June 1960)