Memorial Service for Oregon F-15 Pilot Greg Young

"The 142d lost one of our finest … a highly respected officer, gifted pilot, father, and friend,"- Colonel Steven Gregg, Commander of the 142 Fighter Wing.

Major Greg Young Photo: Oregon National Guard

(ST. HELENS, Ore.) - Family and friends will gather to remember and pay respect to Maj. Greg Young July 5th at 11:00 AM at St. Helens High School, 2375 Gable Rd, St. Helens OR 97051.

Greg Young died during a training exercise over the Pacific Ocean when his jet fighter crashed Tuesday, June 26th, 2007.

After the memorial service there will be a ceremony with full military honors to include a missing-man formation and a Twenty-One Gun salute at the football field.

Parking at St. Helens will be in the large parking lot adjacent to the Auditorium.

Major Gregory Young was born on March 9th, 1973 in St. Helens, Oregon, and he graduated with honors from St. Helens High School in 1991. He was an active participant in numerous extra-curricular activities, and his football coach knew Greg as a natural born leader with his "chest out and chin held a little higher".

Always one to set and achieve high goals, Greg went on to Oregon State University where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering with honors. Major Young received his Air Force commission from Oregon State's ROTC program and was selected to attend the prestigious Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT). Greg was an excellent student who was asked to stay at ENJJPT as an instructor. Eventually, Greg learned to fly the airplane he loved, the F-15 Eagle. A talented fighter pilot and consummate professional, Maj. Young was a living example of our nation's best.

"The 142d lost one of our finest … a highly respected officer, gifted pilot, father, and friend," said Colonel Steven Gregg, the Commander of the 142 Fighter Wing.

Maj. Young is survived by his wife, Tonya, and four children, Dane, Gage, Chandley, and Kaitlyn. He is also survived by his grandmother, Aletha Wolf, parents David and Carol, brother Gary and sister-in-law Corbi, and uncle Dennis Lutje and aunt Linda Lutje.

A transition fund has been set up to assist the family. Checks payable to Tonya Young can be delivered to the Portland Postal Employees Credit Union on the Portland Air National Guard Base, or delivered to Maj. Todd Hofford in Base Operations. In his absence, there will be an envelope established at the Operations desk in Building 265.

College savings accounts have also been established for the children. These are 529 accounts. Donations should be directed to:

Air Warrior Courage Foundation
ATTN: Young Family
PO Box 1553
Front Royal, VA 22630-0033

Another option is to visit the online donation website for the Young Family at the following link: givedirect.org