Chess is more than a game
By Maj. Christopher E. West, 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command Public Affairs Officer
Dec 24, 2007 – 8:03:51 PM

Blackanthem Military News

LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, Iraq – For Salisbury, Md. resident, Clinton E. Young, the game of chess is more than a recreational activity. It is a competitive way to continually sharpen his concentration, memory, problem solving, critical thinking and decision-making skills. Young, a mobilized Army Reserve major, who serves as the medical logistics officer for the 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command here, has been playing chess for more than 40 years.

“I first started playing when I was about four years old,” said Young. “My nanny, Jenon, taught me how to play when my father was stationed in Taipei, Taiwan.”

Throughout his life, Young’s mastery of chess has enabled him to win numerous state, national and international tournaments. He placed second in the 1998 U.S. Army chess championship and recently won the 2007 chess playoffs here and at Camp Buerhing, Kuwait.

Located near Balad, Iraq in the Sunni Triangle, about 68 miles north of Baghdad, servicemembers from as far as Germany, Kuwait, Afghanistan and other destinations journey here every Friday night to play at the base recreational facility in an attempt to end Young’s championship reign.

Like a battle hardened combatant, he engages each challenger with vim, precision, and skill-often making quick work of their feeble effort to take his title.

“To me chess is the gymnasium of the mind. It is a mental work-out that requires constant alertness, incessant intuition and critical reasoning to be successful at it,” said Young. I thank God for giving me the ability to play chess and for giving me the desire to show others how playing chess can help make them become a better, well-rounded person. I even try to show young children that I counsel at the Maple Shade Youth Center in Mardela Springs how chess can be of benefit to them, he added.”

Maj. Young is an awesome chess player,” said Gregory Thomas, a defense contract logistics technician and Young’s protégé. “Clinton is always 20 moves ahead of any opponent he faces. His coaching me on the art and science of chess has helped me to be more patient and think more analytically and to not just view things as they appear,” he further remarked.

Young is a nationally ranked life member of the U.S. Chess Federation. His ultimate goal is to become a grand master and world champion chess player. As evident by his recent wins, he is well on his way to making his dream a reality.

Here is the full story.

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