Capt. Larry Taylor Wiki: Age, Wife, Career, Biography, Family, Education & More
Capt. Larry Taylor is a former Army helicopter pilot who was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Joe Biden on September 5, 2023, for his bravery and skill in rescuing four soldiers from a deadly ambush in Vietnam in 1968.
Taylor, who is now 81 years old, flew over 2,000 combat missions in Vietnam and was engaged by enemy fire 340 times. He is one of the most decorated pilots in the history of the Army.
Contents
Early Life and Biography
According to wikicelebs.com, Larry was born on July 14, 1942, in Knoxville, Tennessee (Age: 81 years old). He grew up in a military family, as his father was a World War II veteran and his grandfather served in World War I.
He attended the University of Tennessee, where he joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program and majored in business administration. He graduated in 1966 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve.
Military Career
Larry Taylor joined the active-duty Army in August 1966 as an armor officer. He soon realized that he wanted to be an aviation officer instead and applied for flight school. He graduated from flight school in June 1967 and was assigned to D Troop (Air), 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam as a UH-1 Huey helicopter pilot.
On June 18, 1968, he was flying an AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter with his copilot when they received a call for help from a four-man long-range reconnaissance patrol team that was surrounded by enemy forces near the Saigon River. Larry and another helicopter pilot flew to the rescue and began firing rockets and machine guns at the enemy positions. They made several low-level passes over the area, exposing themselves to intense ground fire.
READ ALSO –
As they were running low on fuel and ammunition, Taylor realized that the patrol team would not be able to escape to their original extraction point. He decided to find another landing zone near a water treatment plant where other Americans were waiting. He instructed his wingman to fire his remaining rounds along one flank of the enemy and return to base, while he did the same on the other flank.
He then turned on his landing lights and descended to the ground. He told the patrol team to climb onto the skids of his helicopter, as there was no room inside. He managed to lift off with four soldiers hanging onto his aircraft and flew them to safety. He then returned to the battlefield to pick up another soldier who had been wounded by friendly fire.
“I think about 90% of flying a helicopter in Vietnam was making it up as you go along,” he said. “Nobody could criticize you because they couldn’t do it any better than you did and they didn’t know what you were doing anyway.”
-Medal of Honor recipient Captain Larry Taylor pic.twitter.com/FqdUWhMVPq
— MACV-SOG (@MAC_VSOG) September 6, 2023Medal of Honor Action
For his extraordinary heroism and selflessness, Larry Taylor was nominated for the Medal of Honor by his commanding officer. However, due to bureaucratic delays and errors, his nomination was lost for decades. It was not until 2016 that his case was reopened by the Defense Department after a review of Vietnam War records. His nomination was finally approved by Congress and President Biden in 2023.
According to wikicelebs.com, he received the Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House on September 5, 2023. He was accompanied by his wife of 54 years, Linda, his two sons, Larry Jr. and Brian, his daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and his four grandchildren. Larry also met with some of the soldiers he rescued in Vietnam, who expressed their gratitude and admiration for him.
Personal Life and Trivia
Larry retired from the Army in 1984 with the rank of captain. He then worked as a commercial pilot for Delta Air Lines until 2002. He currently lives in Cookeville, Tennessee, where he enjoys fishing, golfing, and gardening.
Some of the trivia about Taylor are:
- He has received dozens of military awards and decorations besides the Medal of Honor, including two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars with Valor Device, two Purple Hearts, three Meritorious Service Medals, 28 Air Medals (one with Valor Device), two Army Commendation Medals with Valor Device, and two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry with Silver Star.
- Larry Taylor is one of only four living Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War.
- He is an avid fan of Tennessee Volunteers football and basketball teams.
- He has a collection of model helicopters that he built himself.
- He is a devout Christian who attends First Baptist Church in Cookeville.
FAQs
Q: How old is Capt. Larry Taylor?
A: Capt. Taylor is 81 years old as of July 14, 2023.
Q: Where was Capt. Larry Taylor born?
A: He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Q: What did Capt. Larry Taylor study at college?
A: Capt. Larry Taylor studied business administration at the University of Tennessee.
Q: What kind of helicopter did Capt. Larry Taylor fly in Vietnam?
A: Taylor flew the UH-1 Huey and the AH-1G Cobra helicopters in Vietnam.
Q: How many soldiers did Capt. Larry Taylor rescue in Vietnam?
A: Larry Taylor rescued five soldiers in Vietnam on June 18, 1968.
Q: When did Capt. Larry Taylor receive the Medal of Honor?
A: He received the Medal of Honor on September 5, 2023.
Q: Who is Capt. Larry Taylor’s wife?
A: His wife is Linda Taylor, whom he married in 1969.
Q: What is Capt. Larry Taylor’s religion?
A: Taylor is a Christian who attends First Baptist Church in Cookeville.
Q: What is Capt. Larry Taylor’s hobby?
A: His hobby is fishing, golfing, and gardening.
Q: How many children and grandchildren do Capt. Larry Taylor has?
A: He has two sons, Larry Jr. and Brian, one daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and four grandchildren, Lauren, Logan, Luke, and Landon.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uLXKopqepJWXwG%2BvzqZmnJmgqXqtrdGrsGaska65sL6MsKCkoV8%3D