After 55 years, on Sept 5th, 2023, Army Helicopter Pilot, Larry L. Taylor received the Medal of Honor for heroic service in Vietnam from President Joe Biden.
Ronnie Imel, American Veterans United Lifetime Member and Cloverlane Board of Governor for Military Affairs, and another small group were instrumental in getting this medal of honor approved for their comrade in Vietnam. Ronnie and his wife Sally, along with the others will be in person to witness the presentation today at the White House.
If you were unable to watch live coverage on NBC News you can type in Larry Taylor Medal of Honor and watch it on You Tube. On September 6th, they will be going to the Medal of Honor Hall for another ceremony. Here is a link for info on the Hall itself – https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/1774933/ You can also read more about Larry Taylor on the www.army.mil/article/269630
(Article courtesy of CNN)
It wasn’t until after Army Capt. Larry Taylor had picked up four of his fellow soldiers during a raging firefight in Vietnam – the men clinging onto the outside of his helicopter, as there wasn’t room inside – that he realized he had to figure out where to take them.
It was June 18, 1968, and then-1st Lt. Taylor and his copilot had been called out in their AH-1G Cobra helicopter to rescue a four-man long-range reconnaissance patrol team who were pinned down by the enemy, with seemingly no way out.
“My copilot says, ‘Sir, now that we’ve got ‘em, what the hell are we going to do with them?’” Taylor recounted to reporters last week. “I said, I don’t know, I didn’t think that far ahead.”
In a matter of moments, Taylor decided to drop them at a nearby water treatment plant where other Americans were waiting on the ground.
“We took them down there and I landed, and I left my wide landing lights on and so the four of them ran out in front of the helicopter and then they turned around and lined up, all four of them, saluted, and then ran for the lights,” Taylor said.
Now, 55 years after that harrowing evening in Vietnam, Taylor will receive the Medal of Honor – the nation’s highest military award – from President Joe Biden on Tuesday, September 5th at the White House for his heroism.
“Taylor’s conspicuous gallantry, his profound concern for his fellow soldiers, and his intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army,” a White House news release said last week.