SPEC4 JEFF DEYOUNG
US ARMY GRENADA
1983 1987
US ARMY GRENADA
1983 1987
Section: 14
Row: 1
Service Branch, Rank
Army
SPEC4
Theater(s) / Campaign(s) / Operations(s)
Grenada/Operation Urgent Fury
Period of Service
1983-1987
Biography
I was born in 1965 in Wilmington, NC. I moved to Greensboro when I was 5. However, my brother and I would return to Wilmington during the summers to visit my grandmother. It was during these visits that I would listen to her neighbor, Mr. Blackwell, and his stories of being a WWII paratrooper in the 101st Airborne. I lived in Greensboro until leaving for the army in 1983. I returned to Greensboro in 1987 after being honorably discharged.
In 1987 I joined the Greensboro Police Department. I retired as a patrol sergeant after 26 years of service. During my service at the police department, I was a member of the Special Response Team and Peer Support Team.
Medals / Awards / Recognitions
Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist Wings, Army Achievement Medal, Expeditionary Medal, 82nd Airborne Distinguished Trooper Award.
Service History
I started basic training in April ‘83. I completed AIT in July of ‘83, becoming a mortar man. From there I attended Army Airborne School and completed the course in August ‘83. I joined the 82nd Airborne just afterwards, becoming an infantry paratrooper.
In October’83 I deployed to Grenada as part of Operation Urgent Fury. Urgent Fury was the liberation of the island nation that had been overthrown by communist dictatorship. I deployed to various training locations to include attending Jungle Expert School in Panama, 1987. My entire enlistment was based at Ft. Bragg.
Favorite Memory of Serving
It’s hard to pinpoint a favorite memory because there are truly so many and not all can be accepted by non veterans. Veterans are wired differently. Especially grunts and more so, paratroopers.
But what I cherish the most -the thing that floods my memory time and again - are the friendships. I have about 7-8 friends from my time in the Army that I speak to several times a year. And the reunions every two years are so important to me. As one buddy described the reunions, “It’s like we’re back in the barracks after a jump, having a cold one!”
What are you most proud of during your service?
Learning to control my fear and not being the weak link.
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