Larry Taylor was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War who received the Medal of Honor in September 2023.
- Died: January 28, 2024 (Who else died on January 28?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, at the age of 81.
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Larry Taylor’s legacy
Taylor joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) while in school at the University of Tennessee. After his 1966 graduation, he attended the U.S. Army Armor School, training as an aviator. He began his active duty in the Vietnam War in 1967 and a year later, he performed a daring rescue that was eventually recognized with the Medal of Honor.
Taylor was flying the new Cobra helicopter in Vietnam when his base received a call for help from a four-man reconnaissance team. They were surrounded by enemy troops and needed rescue. Taylor and another Cobra pilot flew to their aid, engaging in battle with the enemy forces.
With ammunition running low, Taylor realized that no reinforcements were coming. He couldn’t fit the four-man team in the tight quarters of the Cobra, so he tried a risky maneuver that had never been done before. He very briefly landed the helicopter and got the four men to hang onto its skids, despite how being on the ground made the helicopter a vulnerable target. His gamble paid off – Taylor was able to fly the recon team to safety while they clung to the skids.
Taylor was honored with a Silver Star for the rescue mission in 1968. But one of the grateful men he rescued felt he deserved more, and when he learned that there was an appeals process, he began lobbying for Taylor to receive the Medal of Honor. And finally, in September of 2023, President Joe Biden presented Taylor with the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House. At the time of his death, he was the most recent recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Taylor was in Vietnam for one year and flew more than 2,000 combat missions. Later, he served in West Germany before leaving active duty in 1971 with the rank of captain. After his Army service, Taylor worked in roofing.
Notable quote
“I’d always known I’d join the military. My granddaddy fought in the Civil War, my great uncle in WWI, and my dad and uncles in WWII. I didn’t have to be drafted to fight in Vietnam. It was the honor of my life.” —from a 2022 interview for Freedom Sings USA
Tributes to Larry Taylor
Full obituary: Chattanooga Times Free Press
