Benjamin Yabovitz Young

Benjamin Yabovitz was born on 3 January 1899 OR 25 December 1896 OR 18 December 1899 in Kovno, Kaunas, Russian Empire (now Kaunas, Lithuania) to Nathan Yabovitz (?-?) and Rose Brown (1860-1931). He had at least four siblings, David (1887-?), Ida (1889-?), Dora (1892-1974) and Ethel (1898-?), but may have had several others.

“He was graduated from the Williams School, Chelsea, and is the youngest of four brothers. He also has four sisters.”

Yabovitz may have emigrated to the United States via Liverpool, England to New York on or around 6-14 October, 1906, aboard the vessel RMS Caronia (Cunard Line, United Kingdom). Few details are known regarding Yabovitz’s early life and education.  

Yabovitz enlisted in the U.S. Army on 25 July 1917; he was assigned as a Private to Company B, 101^st Infantry Regiment, 26^th Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Forces. Pvt Yabovitz received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions near St. Remy, France on 12 September 1918;

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Benjamin Yabovitz (ASN: 60080), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, A.E.F., near St. Remy, France, 12 September 1918. While carrying a message through an advance trench, Private Yabovitz was attacked by 14 of the enemy. After receiving two bayonet wounds, this soldier succeeded in killing three of the enemy and capturing the other 11, whom he brought to the rear.”

“Yabovitz, who is said to have killed four Germans and captured seven the day before the armistice was signed, is the son of Mrs. Rose Yabovitz. He was born in Russia and came here with his family when 6 years old. He is 19 years old, and enlisted with the 101^st Regiment in April, 1917.”

Pvt Yabovitz was wounded in action- details regarding the degree and treatment of the wound(s) are currently unknown. He returned to the United States with a casualty company of sick and wounded aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship U.S.S. America on 5 April 1919. He was sent initially to General Hospital #10.

“…following his discharge from the Parker Hill Hospital, where he was sent to recuperate from a bayonet wound in the leg.”

Pvt Yabovitz was Honorably Discharged on 31 May 1919.

Upon returning home, Yabovitz lived with his mother, two sisters, brother-in-law Nyman Sokol (1890-1961), and nephew Louis Sokol (1912-1984) on Chestnut Street in Chelsea, Massachusetts. At this time, Yabovitz worked as a ‘shipper’ in a ‘cap factory’- soon after, he lived at 189 Chestnut Street. On 24 November 1920, Yabovitz married Etta Sinalcove (1898-1976); the couple had two children, Norman Morton (1921-1991) and Harold (1926-1996). In the 1930s, the family lived at 776 47th Street in Brooklyn, where Yabovitz worked as an upholsterer for a furniture store; in the 1940s, living at 1829 Lexington Avenue, New York, where Yabovitz worked as a clerk for a stationary store. Within that decade, the family also lived at 4424 10^th Avenue, Brooklyn, where Yabovitz worked for a bakery.

Before 1950, Yabovitz changed his surname to ‘Young’, as did his wife and children. At the beginning of the decade, the family lived at 164 45^th Street in New York, where Young worked as a newspaper salesman. Few details are known related to Young’s adult life, he died on 5 October 1959 at or near Chelsea, Massachusetts. He and his wife are most likely buried at New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon, New York.