Stephen Bower Young served as a seaman and petty officer in the regular navy and as a commissioned officer in the naval reserve, from which he retired. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries received 7 December 1941 and a Navy Unit Commendation and five battle stars while serving in the light cruiser Honolulu in the Guadalcanal, New Georgia, and Aleutian campaigns during World War II. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and served in the attack transport Monrovia.