Cecil "Cy" Young graduated from Bowie High School in Bowie, Texas and from Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas on a football scholarship. In the fall of 1941, he began his teaching and coaching career in Texas high schools. With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Young joined the Navy in June 1942. After boot camp in Virginia, he was sent to Algiers, North Africa and was attached to the headquarters that was planning the invasion of Italy. Mr. Young received a commission and returned to the United States for additional training in New York and California. He was assigned USS Cartenet, A.P.A 70 as a boat officer and participated in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa invasions. Mr. Young was discharged in March 1946, as a Lieutenant (Junior Grade) and resumed his Texas teaching/coaching career. He subsequently received his Masters Degree from the University of North Texas. After 30 years in education, he retired in 1981.

Some highlights of Mr. Young's contributions include the founding of a National Track Coaches Clinic during the 1960's. In the mid-1980's Mr. Young served as president of the District IX Texas Retired Teachers Association. Also, in the 1980's Cy answered the call of the Bowie Educational Foundation, Inc. and agreed to serve as president. Through Mr. Young's leadership, the fund grew from $1,000 to more than $10,000 during his tenure as president.

In 1991, he formed the Iwo Jima Survivors Association of Texas that includes all branches of service involved in the Iwo Jima campaign. He served as chairman of the group from 1991 to 2000, and was instrumental in acquiring numerous national heroes to attend the annual reunions. The association was renamed the Iwo Jima Survivors Family Association, recognizing that each year the number of survivors get less and less and it is up to survivor's family members to continue to honor those who fought and died on Iwo Jima. Mr. Young continues to play an active role in this group as well.

Cy resides in Bowie, Texas. His children; Jan and Richard Reddick, Kay-Lynn Lyon and Rick Lyon, and Randy Young, and grandchildren, Katie Reddick, Brandon and Keiko Reddick, and Matt Reddick are very proud of him and also support him in his efforts to recognize all Iwo Jima veterans.