Ron Young -- Shot Down, But Not Out...

On March 23, 2003, my helicopter was shot down. I was a 26-year old combat rookie, just two days into Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was with a group of 18 American helicopters flying north when red tracers from Iraqi antiaircraft instillations began streaking into the sky.
It was sporadic at first, but then everything changed. All of the sudden, we hit a wall of lead and it didn’t let up for 25 solid minutes. A bullet finally punched into the fuselage, and the Apache lost its weapon system.

I continued to guide Dave Williams, the pilot, through the maze of tracers, best as I could. But the bullets were getting closer and closer. All of a sudden, the aircraft shook, shuddered, yawed to the left, and leaned back. I yelled at Dave not to slow down, and he screamed back that we’d lost an engine. That’s when I knew we were going down.

We slammed into the field below, scrambled out, sprinted away, and then dove into a ditch. Shooting and explosions were everywhere. We tried to put distance between ourselves and the search parties forming at the disabled helicopter. Then, I heard something and hit the ground.
When I looked up, I saw a bunch of Iraqis moving toward us. We knew they’d kill us if we start running, and I had 15 9mm pistol rounds against an entire Iraqi patrol with AK-47s. The only way to live was to give ourselves up.

We were dragged from one house to another during the next weeks. The treatment was rough, and the interrogations sometimes brutal. I spent 23 days thinking I would never see another sunrise.

But I’m an Eagle Scout. I learned early on that you have to keep pushing yourself forward. No matter what the situation, no matter how challenging. That all came into play in Iraq.
I’ve known too many guys who’ve lost their lives over there. They were all willing to make that kind of sacrifice on behalf of people who will never even know or understand. That kind of service is really amazing. And the reason we in the armed forces do that is because we grew up with certain values, like the values I took from the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

For a century, Scouting has been helping America’s young people realize that they can do more than they ever thought possible. I’m really proud of all Scouting has done and it’s been great to reconnect since I returned home. I hope others will do the same, help a local Scout troop or council, and help shape that next generation that’ll one day be guarding our freedom.

Ron Young is an Eagle Scout and Army Reservist, stationed near Atlanta, Ga. A detailed account of his story can be read in the book “Spirit of Adventure,” by Alvin Townley. Learn more about reconnecting with the Boy Scouts of America at http://www.bsaalumni.org/.

A Shared Tradition of Service

For 100 years, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has been teaching leadership, service, and citizenship to America’s youth. We work to instill in them an appreciation for what others have done—and continue to do—to defend our freedom.

That’s why when the U.S. Postal Service commissioned the 2010 Celebrate Scouting stamp, we developed a program to put it to use. Scouts have already begun to send letters and packages to veterans and soldiers stationed abroad. It is our way of saying thank you for the incredible service, and sacrifice, of our military men and women.

This is just one of many programs where Scouts and servicemen and women work together. The BSA Transatlantic Council—headquartered at Camp Darbo in Livorno, Italy—serves 5,500 military youth annually on nearly every European base. It is the largest youth organization overseas serving military families.

The 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York has served as a major partner towards helping start a Scout group for children with special disabilities, including autism. The group meets on base and some of the personnel help out as volunteers for this unique group of Scouts.

All three service academies—the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and the Air Force Academy—have students staff Philmont Scout Ranch each summer. Depending on the school, this participation can count as college credit or as part of a leadership class.

Further cementing our strong relationship are the Scouts themselves. For his Eagle Scout project, San Antonio-based Scout Anthony Trevino chose to support the military men and women at Lackland Air Force Base. This video shows how one Scout is making a difference by giving those deployed overseas a piece of home.

Service is a cornerstone of both the military and the Scouting experience. It is how leaders are made, communities are strengthened, and fundamental American values are passed from one generation to the next. Thank you for all that you do to support Scouting in your communities.

If you are not currently involved in Scouting, but would like to join the adventure, reconnect at http://www.bsaalumni.org/. Our alumni and friends program is open to everyone from Eagle Scouts to those who left after Webelo, but still value the program. It is also open to family members, volunteers, and community supporters of Scouting.