The Vasche Vexvelt - The History of the Starship "Rodger Young". By Moreno Franco

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View of the Oikumene Security Vessel - Starship "Rodger Young" in parking orbit over Planet Baikon. (And bombing the shit out of it).

My painting of the starship "Rodger Young" is based on a ballad of that same name - performed by Burl Ives in 1949,
when the body of Rodger Young was returned to the U.S. for burial.
It was on a 33RPM record that my parents had when I was very young.

Years later I came across American writer Robert A. Heinlein's book: "Starship Trooper"  (Which the movie not only. does no justice to at all to the book- by any stretch of the imagination, but is merely a rah-rah world war two movie set on another planet).

This ballad and the book, motivated me to paint this picture of the "Rodger Young".
As a science fiction fantasy painting.

The only thing that the movie has in connection with the book is the ship "Rodger Young"

The True Story of Private Rodger Young

Roger Wilton Young, born April 28, 1918 – died during World War 2, on July 31, 1943, on New Georgia, in the Solomon Islands.

He held the rank of Private, serving in the 37th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army 148th Infantry.

He although he died in action, he received a posthumous Citation for his bravery - the Medal of Honor - for his actions in the face of the enemy which led to other members of his Company to survive the battle.

To quote: "On 31 July 1943, the infantry platoon of which Pvt. Young was a member, was ordered to make a limited withdrawal from the battle line in order to adjust the battalion's position for the night. At this time, Pvt. Young's platoon was engaged with the enemy in a dense jungle where observation was very limited.

The platoon suddenly was pinned down by intense fire from a Japanese machine gun concealed on higher ground only 75 yards away.

The initial burst wounded Pvt. Young. As the platoon started to obey the order to withdraw, Pvt. Young called out that he could see the enemy emplacement, whereupon he started creeping toward it. Another burst from the machine gun wounded him the second time.

Despite the wounds, he continued his heroic advance, attracting enemy fire and answering with rifle fire. When he was close enough to his objective, he began throwing hand grenades, and while doing so was hit again and killed.

Pvt. Young's bold action in closing with this Japanese pillbox, and thus diverting its fire, permitted his platoon to disengage itself, without loss, and was responsible for several enemy casualties.

The Ballad of Rodger Young is an American war song by Frank Loesser, written and first performed during World War II in March 1945.
The ballad performed by singer, Burl Ives, is an elegy - not just for Army Private Rodger Wilton Young, but for soldiers everywhere, fighting so that people may be free from oppression.

Attribution:
Unknown, work of US Army, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Ballad of Rodger Young

"Oh, they've got no time for glory in the Infantry.
Oh, they've got no use for praises loudly sung,
But in every soldier's heart in all the Infantry
Shines the name, shines the name of Rodger Young.

"Shines the name — Rodger Young,
Fought and died for the men he marched among.
To the everlasting glory of the Infantry
Lives the story of Private Rodger Young.

By Frank Loesser

Well this is a real story -
Here is a story I wrote - based on a fairytale -
WHICH IS CLOSER TO REAL LIFE TODAY

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