ENC David Young An Oath of Honor, Courage, Commitment Made At 12,400 Feet
Story and photo by MC1(SW/AW) N. Ross Taylor, Navy Public Affairs Support Element Japan


(Right) ENC David Young joins his reenlisting officer, Cmdr. Andrew Gibbons, under the picturesque Torii – the final gateway to Mount Fuji’s breathtaking summit, to take the oath of enlistment for the fourth time in his career July 30.


(Third from right) ENC David Young, from Fort Pierce, Fla., assigned to Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Western Pacific, poses for a picture with friends and coworkers after reenlisting at the Torii (gate) located at the summit of Mount Fuji July 30. A 17-year veteran, Young was joined by his friends and coworkers who made the seven-hour hike alongside him. Fuji stands at nearly 12,400 feet above sea level and is located 60 miles southwest of Tokyo.

After nearly two decades of service to his country, a nearly 12,400 foot mountain of volcanic rock stood between Chief Engineman (SW) David Young, assigned to Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Western Pacific, and his goal to pledge an ongoing commitment to the U.S. Navy.

On July 30, the Fort Pierce, Fla. native tackled the daunting task of reaching the summit of Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest peak, rededicating himself to the oath of defending America and the freedoms of its people.

“After 17 years of naval service, this could potentially be my last reenlistment before I retire,” Young said. “I wanted to make it as much of a memorable experience as I could.”

Young, the son of a retired master chief petty officer, says that climbing to the top of Mount Fuji and reenlisting there was an opportunity he could not pass on and is a milestone that will be etched in his memory forever.

“I take my dedication to naval service seriously and with so much pride and honor,” he said. “To have an opportunity to perform this ceremony at the final Torii (gate) with friends and coworkers and amongst the thousands of Japanese citizens also making the incredible hike will be something I will never forget.”

Fujiyama, as the mountain is called by Japanese, is a national treasure and its name implies “everlasting life.” According to Buddhist tradition, Fuji rose from the earth in 286 B.C. after an earthquake that also created Lake Biwa, the nation’s largest lake. Some believe the mountain itself is a sacred being, possessing a soul, while others believe it to be a gateway to another world.

Unlike some sacred mountains, it is not considered sacrilegious to climb Mount Fuji - in fact, Japanese say to ascend to the summit is a journey undertaken to gain divine aid or to demonstrate devotion. F or Young, the colossal undertaking was one that would prove to not only be physically demanding but also a true test of will.

“It was not until we reached the 8th station, a little more than half way, when the exhaustion and mental fatigue really set in,” he said. “Each time the clouds cleared, I looked up toward the sky and the seemingly impossible-to-reach summit and it appeared no closer than when I started. It was then, I knew that I just had to take it in steps and focus on the goal and the reward of making it to the top.”

When he reached his goal, Young was filled with elation and a bit of heartache.

“My first emotion was sadness, as my wife and best friend April, was not with me. She has been the backbone of our family and a significant factor in any step that I take in the Navy. It was a little disheartening for me to not have her with me at such a crucial and emotional point in my life and career,” he explained.

“She is a part of every decision I make and I spoke to her a few times along the way,” he said, sighing as his eyes began to swell. “At one point when I was really struggling, I put my rain gear on and in my poncho pocket I found a note that said, ‘Honey, I love you. Keep going strong, I am really proud of you.’ That helped.” Young said that aside from missing his wife as he finally reached his goal, there was a moment when he was filled with an absolute sense of accomplishment as he saw the final Torii more than 12,000 feet above sea level.

“With the intense exhaustion that I had experienced along the climb and what it meant to be re-enlisting at the summit of one of the Far East’s tallest peaks, I was overcome with joy,” he said. 

After a moment of taking in his accomplishment, Young joined his reenlisting officer, Cmdr. Andrew Gibbons, under the picturesque Torii – the final gateway to Fujiyama’s breathtaking summit, to take the oath of enlistment for the fourth time in his career.

“This was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life,” Young said. “The memory of this almost seven-hour trek to rededicate my service to my country is something I will treasure for a lifetime.”