New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch Monday, February 19, 2007
Add to My HeroesJohn T. Young
Detective John Young died of lung cancer that he contracted after working at Ground Zero, the site of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks of 9/11.
He was assigned to a detail working at Ground Zero and was present at the site for hundreds of hours. During that time, Detective Young inhaled toxic materials that were present in the air. The inhalation of those materials caused him to develop lung cancer, which eventually caused his death.
Detective Young had served with the New York City Police Department for 20 years, and was assigned to the 50th Precinct in the Bronx. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and three sons.
The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks
On the morning of September 11th, 2001, seventy-two officers from a total of eight local, state, and federal agencies were killed when terrorist hijackers working for the al Qaeda terrorist network, headed by Osama bin Laden, crashed four hijacked planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
After the impact of the first plane into the World Trade Center's North Tower, putting the safety of others before their own, law enforcement officers along with fire and EMS personnel, rushed to the burning Twin Towers of the World Trade Center to aid the victims and lead them to safety. Due to their quick actions, it is estimated that over 25,000 people were saved.
As the evacuation continued, the South Tower unexpectedly collapsed as a result of the intense fire caused by the impact. The North Tower collapsed a short time later. Seventy-two law enforcement officers, 343 members of the New York City Fire Department, and over 2,800 civilians were killed at the World Trade Center site on 9/11.
A third hijacked plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania when the passengers attempted to re-take control of the plane. One law enforcement officer, who was a passenger on the plane, was killed in that crash.
The fourth hijacked plane was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing almost 200 military and civilian personnel. No law enforcement officers were killed at the Pentagon on 9/11.
The terrorist attacks resulted in the declaration of war against the Taliban regime, the illegal rulers of Afghanistan, and the al Qaeda terrorist network which also was based in Afghanistan.
On September 9th, 2005, all of the public safety officers killed on September 11th, 2001, were posthumously awarded the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor by President George W. Bush.
The contamination in the air at the World Trade Center site caused many rescue personnel to become extremely ill and eventually led to the death of several rescue workers.
On May 1st, 2011, members of the United States military conducted a raid on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and killed Osama bin Laden.
Please click here to visit the memorials of all of the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks.
Bio
- Age 48
- Tour 20 years
- Badge 4086
Incident Details
- Cause 9/11 related illness
- Incident Date Tuesday, September 11, 2001
- Weapon Aircraft; Passenger jet
- Offender 19 suicide attackers
Most Recent Reflection
View all 154 ReflectionsHi John,
It's 4am March 1st, 2024. I am laying here just thinking how much more interesting life would be if you were still with us. You would make a truly outstanding grandfather, kids all spreadout in different states. They are all growing up fantastically. The phone calls we would have shared about the crazy things and comparisons of the combined 15 of them. Well I do have those conversations.....lol...even if they are one sided...
Time goes by so quickly it seems....I just wanted to let you know I never stop thinking of you and Jimmy....
Rest well my brothers....keep watching out for the families...
Always Loved, never forgotten....
Fred Young
Brother
March 1, 2024
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